Drive (1997): Where Has this Action Film Been All My Life?

Drive (1997) blends Hong Kong action inspired sequences with American "buddy" humor.Drive (1997) wasn't a movie you could go see at the box office, unless you lived in Japan or The Philippines.It debuted on HBO and went straight to video, and it is mostly forgotten.But thanks to the internet, me and many others who missed it back in the 1990s have been told of its ways by those who saw it. And, well, Drive's ways are amazing.With explosive fight scenes featuring Mark Dacascos (Brotherhood of the Wolf) and the comic wingman skills of Kadeem Hardison (A Different World), this kickback action fest is a surprising cult pick.When Toby, a former Hong Kong agent, is implanted with a device that gives him super speed and power, he flees, lest his device fall into the hands of the new Chinese government. But when he lands in San Francisco, he is chased by assassins trying to nab it back. Soon, Toby finds Malik, a struggling singer/songwriter. But Malik's got one important thing Toby needs: a car. Offering Malik a pile of cash for driving him to Los Angeles, Malik accepts.Featuring battles with electrified stun baton wielding assassins, fights handcuffed together in a rock quarry, and a final showdown with an "advanced model" in a strange Apollo 14 restaurant, Drive is a bizarre but mesmerizing fight fest. And I had a blast breaking it all down for you in this latest episode.Directed by Steve Wang. Written by Scott Phillips. Starring Mark Dacascos, Kadeem Hardison, Brittany Murphy, Tracey Walter, and John Pyper-Ferguson.Connect with us on Bluesky:@not-ni-theaters.bsky.socialAnd to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com