Invasion U.S.A. (1985) User Reviews

Only in the movies...

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 28 June 2011]

A cheese fan's dream, with Chuck Norris on top form as a gun-toting hardman out to single-handedly stop the invasion of America by those pesky Russians. From start to finish, INVASION U.S.A. is one of Cannon's most outrageous and over-the-top action epics, featuring a plethora of outlandish action scenarios all achieved on what must have been a relatively low budget.

The movie features B-movie stalwart Richard Lynch as a deranged madman out for revenge on our bearded hero. Along the way, Lynch takes care of sleazy coke dealer Billy Drago and his coke-snorting prostitute in one of the most violently laughable set-pieces ever put on film. From then on in, it's Chuck versus the terrorists. Our hero proves fast with his mini machine guns and even faster with his one-liners, dispatching crim after crim in a series of spectacular showdowns. Highlights include the attempted bombing of a school bus and a massive shoot-out in a shopping mall (so good they copied it in Seagal's MARKED FOR DEATH).

Things end with a massive battle that provides a maximum number of explosions for your dollar – even if one scene of an exploding van is repeated three times, each from a different angle in an attempt to make it look like a different vehicle. Supporting characters are wisely kept out of the way, walls are demolished, the scenery-chewing hits an all-time high and Chuck doesn't even attempt characterisation (in fact, he barely even speaks). No, this was the same year that COMMANDO came out and automatic weaponry ruled the box office. It's an action fan's delight, proving far funnier than any mainstream comedy you can name.

Chuck pwns Communism

[Fluke_Skywalker · 5/10 · 20 August 2015]

There's a 20-minute stretch in 'Invasion U.S.A.' where Chuck Norris' Matt Hunter character keeps showing up out of the blue to thwart various Commie terror attacks that his character would have had no clue were about to take place. We all know the real Chuck Norris is omniscient, but who knew that his characters were as well? 'Invasion U.S.A.' is high on dead bodies, and low on logic and common sense, but it's a fairly well made film from the technical side, and seeing Norris operate at the peak of his hairy-chested machismo is always a treat.

Best Chuckism; "If you come back in here, I'm gonna hit you with so many rights you're gonna be beggin' for a left.".

Regardless of how many assault rifles and explosives are on display, the most potent weapon in any Chuck Norris movie is his beard

[happyendingrocks · 6/10 · 9 August 2011]

Chuck Norris is perhaps the most intriguing of the '80s action heroes; while he doesn't really have any stone-cold classics on his resume like Sly or Ah-nuld, his presence in popular culture is admirably prominent. I don't think there's a book called What Would Steven Seagal Do?, so despite Chuck's spotty filmatic track record, I'm sure he's pretty satisfied with his legacy.

Invasion U.S.A. falls somewhere in the middle of the "Best/Worst Chuck Norris Movie" rankings, but despite its bigger flaws, there's no denying its success as an enjoyably cheesy let's-blow-some-stuff-up vehicle. Granted, the film doesn't score too many points for originality, and the textbook B-action plot line pretty much writes itself: former (insert elite government agency here) operative (insert easy-to-remember tough-guy name here) is reluctantly pulled back into action when an attempt on his life leads to the death of (insert close friend or family member here).

On the plus side, thanks to the presence of splatter movie veteran Joseph Zito in the director's chair, Invasion U.S.A. features a couple of nifty gore set-pieces that are far more memorable than the film itself. One scene establishing lead baddie Rostov's sadism finds the perpetually scowling ne'er-do-well smashing an over-zealous amphetamine sampler's head into a table, thus forcing her coke straw up into her nose. Unsatisfied by this bit of brutality, he then throws her out a window, but not before thrusting his gun into the waistband of another unlucky victim and unloading it into the poor guy's crotch. Our lovable murderer apparently enjoys this method of dispatch, and a snitch has his manly parts ventilated in the exact same fashion later in the film. Rostov's other notable pursuits include the massacre of a boatload of unarmed Cuban men, women, and children, so his mean streak certainly makes him an adept villain.

Elsewhere, the over-the-top action sequences the genre demands are fairly well-executed, but they are also peppered with a degree of absurdity that is assuredly well above par in relation to many of the other offerings in the '80s canon. Hunter's foiling of a bombing inside a shopping mall is the most deliriously exuberant of the lot, and the damage he does to the retail center while driving his truck through the front entrance and plowing a trail of vehicular destruction through several stores is so massive that the wreckage left behind by the bomb itself seems like a spill on aisle five by comparison. Naturally, Hunter's demolition derby concludes with a shootout against a small army of assassins, who were apparently somehow able to walk through the mall strapped with machine guns and rocket launchers without arousing the suspicions of the other shoppers.

While mostly played for pyrotechnic value, the deeds perpetuated by the invading forces are truly horrifying when you imagine them transferred into the off-screen world. The launching of explosives into the windows of random suburban homes is a potent scenario, as is the devastation at a carnival we see the aftermath of, where it's clear many children were counted among the dead. A thwarted attempt to strap C-4 to a school bus full of youngsters further demonstrates the unrelenting callousness of the terrorist forces, and in this respect, Invasion U.S.A. doesn't skimp on giving us ample motivation to get behind Chuck.

Norris himself is certainly a sturdy and engaging action hero, but unfortunately Invasion U.S.A. finds him saddled with Melissa Prophet's sassy freelance reporter, who is ostensibly on hand to spark sexual tension and/or comic relief, but is so cloying and unlikeable that we're left hoping that Hunter catches her with a stray bullet.

The movie runs about 15 minutes too long to be a lean, mean action flick (I don't think the film would have been adversely affected if all of Prophet's ultimately useless scenes ended up on the cutting room floor), but once the mayhem gets going, the film rarely comes up for air, so the pace remains brisk throughout.

The climactic assault is impressively padded with extras, but sort of muddles our notions of exactly who the vaguely defined terrorist marauders are supposed to be. While most of the principal players alternately look to be Russian, German, and South American guerrillas, several members of the army look like they were plucked out of a New Jersey biker gang, and others seem to have been drafted from an amateur basketball league in Detroit. A few portions of the finale are downright baffling, such as one amusing sequence in which a cadre of terrorists runs through a series of abandoned offices while unleashing torrents of machine gun fire, reducing furniture and scattered paperwork to splinters, since there aren't any actual people there to shoot. I wouldn't think gunning down piles of documents would be considered an effective use of ammunition, but considering the veracity of the assault, I'm assuming these terrorists loathe paper goods as much as they loathe America.

Okay, it's silly as hell, but so what? This may not be Norris's long-sought masterpiece, but the end result is still a dependably entertaining B-movie with plenty of action. Considering that the cover art shows a diminutive Norse god double-fisting twin machine guns, I'd say Invasion U.S.A. delivers exactly what it's supposed to.

One of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time!

[culwin · 15 September 1999]

Oh come on! This movie is hilarious!!

Chuck Norris is the funniest action hero since Charlie Sheen in "Hot Shots Part Deux"! Of course the plot (what there is of one) is completely ridiculous, and only exists to have an excuse to blow stuff up and for Chuck to beat people up. This only adds to the laughability! I highly recommend this to any person looking for the ultimate in exagerated action films. And those quotes! Classic!!

"If you come in here again, I'll hit you with so many rights..you'll beg for a left!"

Retired CIA agent , Norris , back on action when his former enemy, Lynch , invades Florida with a terrorist army

[ma-cortes · 5/10 · 10 January 2012]

Exciting , thrilling film depicting an one-man army who comes to the rescue of the United States when a terrorist attempts to overtake entire nation by means a violent full-fledged invasion carried out by the ¨Russian enemy¨ . Entertaining and moving movie about an absurd conspiracy for invasion US that threatens American economic prosperity . The picture concerns upon a dangerous international terrorist group trying to destroy United States via some continued series of terrorist operations but CIA discovers the scheme and assigns the mission a retired agent . As Matt Hunter (Chuck Norris) goes back in action against a fearful enemy spy (Richard Lynch) and his troops who invade Florida . It's a pulp movie of political war genre in which there are turmoil , repellent violence ,suspense, intrigue, tension , action using tons of explosions and bombings ; resulting to be quite bemusing . The history deals about a nasty Russian and his hoodlums causing destruction and panic , versus Norris and American patriots who fight strongly to vanquish them.

This is a routine actioner with Karate star Chuck Norris as retired CIA agent resulting go be one of the best roles he'd made to date , as he's nice as tough, cold, stubborn Matt Hunter . It's a predictable , shallow and brainless film though will appeal to Chuck Norris enthusiasts because of it contains some excellent action sequences . In spite of lack luster and budget is quite agreeable and entertaining . The plot is almost ridiculous and senseless but it's developed in fast moving and numerous surprises and for that reason is amusing . In the film there are some nasty , ominous villains well played by Richard Lynch and Billy Drago at a brief intervention . This paranoia-political-thriller movie has precedent in those films of the 50s and 60s in which take place fantastic invasion on America as ¨Sinister invasion or Invasion USA (1952)¨ , that bears remarkable resemblance, by Alfred E Green and ¨Battle beneath the earth¨(1967) by Montomery Tully . The motion picture takes part of a genre which in the 80s attained splendor, thus : ¨Red Dawn¨( by John Milius with Patrick Swayze) and ¨Amerika¨ ( by Donald Wyre with Kris Kristofferson) where the communists -Russkies generally- execute invasion on America. Thrilling and pulsating musical score by Jay Chattaway and mediocre cinematography by cameraman Joao Fernandez . The motion picture is produced by Cannon films ( Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus ) and professionally directed by Joseph Zito , a craftsman expert on terror and action genre (Delta Force one : the lost patrol , Red Scorpion, Friday the 13th : the last chapter,The prowler and Missing in action, again with Norris ). The motion picture will appeal to Chuck Norris fans . Rating: Average but entertaining

"If he's alive... he's still a threat." Top silly 80's action blockbuster.

[poolandrews · 7/10 · 24 April 2007]

Invasion U.S.A. starts just off the coast of Florida where a boat carrying a load of illegal immigrants as well as a lot of cocaine is stopped by a official U.S. coast guard vessel, however it's a trap & evil mercenary Mikhail Rostov (Richard Lynch) shoots everyone dead & steals the coke. Mikhail them uses the coke to buy an arsenal of weaponry from a drug dealer (Billy Drago) which he then uses to arm a squad of terrorists who then travel around America blowing anything & everything up they come across, just randomly shooting people & generally causing bloody havoc & mayhem. Now Rostov is only afraid of one thing special forces agent Matt Hunter (Chuck Norris) who he tries to assassinate but Rosotv makes three basic mistakes, Rostov blows Hunter's house up, he kills Hunter's best mate & foolishly doesn't check to make sure Hunter is dead which he isn't. It's personal for Hunter now as he plans to kill all the terrorists & Rostov all by himself...

Directed by Joseph Zito this is pretty silly stuff but highly entertaining if your in the right mood. The script by James Bruner & star Chuck Norris has an absolutely preposterous concept that the US is being invaded by a bunch of terrorists & the only thing that can stop them isn't the might of it's armed forces, the police or any other Government organisation but one man army Chuck Norris in his pick up truck, it's a premise I found highly amusing actually & as a result I couldn't take the film seriously but what they hell when it's this much fun & there's this much wanton unnecessary destruction on show who cares? Invasion U.S.A. is the sort of 80's action film which embraces the principal that if one bullet is all it takes why not use fifty? Or if a grenade will do why not just use a rocket launcher? This is over-the-top macho testosterone fuelled nonsense with enough gun fights, explosions, tanks, soldiers, terrorists, vehicular mayhem, deaths, violence, huge guns & rocket launchers along with a plot that moves so fast you don't have time to think about all the pot holes in it. This one takes itself pretty seriously although Norris does get one or two one-liners although overall he gets very little dialogue, since Norris co-wrote the script I would assume he knew his limitations in the fact he can't act at all so just let his character do what he himself does best & kick the bad guys butts. The script also never explains the motivations behind Rostov & his terrorists except that they are working for someone else who are never revealed. Oh & one more thing, what happened to Chuck's pet Armidillo?!

Director Zito does a good job & keeps the action coming thick & fast, this has a huge body count & features plenty of mindless destruction which is what we all want really. The action is well staged & it looks to have had a sizable amount of money behind it. This is one of those films where no-one ever seems to have to reload their weapons especially rocket launchers which only hold one rocket at time...

With a supposed budget of about $10,000,000 there's a lot of bang on screen for the money, this was Norris's fifth film for Canon & was probably made at the height of his fame which is why it's decent, has good production values & is well made. The acting isn't great, Lynch is an OK villain, a reporter Melissa Prophet turns up occasionally & then totally disappears about 20 minutes before it finishes while it was probably a very good decision to not give Chuck himself any dialogue expect for the odd one-liner & I thought Billy Drago was killed off far too early.

Invasion U.S.A. is a top 80's action film, while not as good as some it's right up there & maybe the best thing Norris has done along with Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990), definitely worth a watch.

Miami Under Attack

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 18 July 2020]

One thing I will say about Invasion USA is that when the action gets going it doesn't let up. It's like watching an Indiana Jones movie that way.

The Russians have decided that the way to conqer Ajmerica is to spread naked terror. So several landing craft land one night in Florida and terrorists disembark. The idea is to spread chaos and mayhem with attacks on civilians in places that they congregate.

We however have Chuck Norris on our side, a mysterious agent who has some history with the terrorist Commie leader Richard Lynch. So whrever they strike in the Miami area, Norris is johnny on the spot and does them n at a prodigious rate.

Surprisingly for a Chuck Norris film little martial arts is used except in the end with his final confrontation with Lynch.

It's cinem paranoia at its finest. The best acting is done by Norris's pet armadillo.

'It's time...'

[punishmentpark · 6/10 · 29 November 2013]

Another Chuck Norris party; everyone's invited, but not all will enjoy it. To be honest, the man has no charisma, but I guess it is just that which gives him his appeal, if that makes any sense. The plot is shameful, but it delivers plenty of hilariously bad and unsuccessful scenes. The invasion itself, with about 'twenty to forty' (no one knows how to count...) tanks going up the beach, is downright silly, but the subsequent modus operandi is quite nasty; turning people against the police (which only really worked well in one scene, though) reminded me even of a Charles Manson scheme. Then there's a reference to the Zodiac killer, when a school bus full of children is attacked. Yes, it's a journey to get past the shame of it, but in the year 2013 that is a lot easier than it would have been around the time this film was made. Plus, there's plenty of shooting and explosions to enjoy, for those who would...

6 out of 10.

Entertaining in parts due to its absurdity, but overall it's INCREDIBLY stupid

[BroadswordCallinDannyBoy · 3/10 · 12 July 2006]

A crazy terrorist named Rostov thinks that Americans don't value their freedom. Since they are in no danger of really losing it, Rostov decides to attack the USA with a bunch of mercenaries. He proceeds to demolish towns and instill terror. He then blows up Chuck Norris's house and frightens Chuck's pet baby armadillo. Big mistake, Rostov. BIG FRIGGIN' MISTAKE!

From the title you can only manage to expect an overblown macho action-fest and that is precisely what this is. Schwarzenegger had 'Commando' also in 1985 and Stallone came out with a similar vehicle in 'Cobra' the next year. The idea of one guy taking out hordes of bad guys with his trusty weapon of choice - a pair of uzis with unlimited ammo in this case - is here much like in the aforementioned films.

Interesting is the not-so-subtle presentation of uber-patriotism. Chuck Norris wears all blue, drives American cars, lives in the American wetlands of Florida and so on. While the badguys speak with their ridiculous foreign accents, use much different and presumably foreign weapons and even drive non-American cars even if they acquire them in America. Was this intentional? Well that doesn't matter actually, because it is played out to no effect.

What does matter is the film's absurdity. The film begins with a laughably goofy set-up for a political thriller and ends up being a series of loosely connected action scenes with Chuck making his heroic appearance and taking out the badguys with the very bomb they intended to plant. One scene where Chuck saves a school bus will literally have you laughing on the floor for how stupid it is. If you think you have seen "so bad it's funny" then see this film - it is so bad it's... um... very funny!

The only real highlights (things that are actually good for real) are Richard Lynch's turn as the villain. It is a delightfully stereotypical villain role, but it was sadly underused. Ah-nuld's 'Commando' made much better use of it's goofy villains, premise, and overall feel making it an equally stupid, but much more satisfying film in the end. The other thing is the premise at hand here - an attack on America. Uber-patriotic crap aside, that could make for a good and interesting thriller. What the film makers here didn't realize that that idea (as with any worthy thriller) is going to take more than 5 minutes to develop into a screenplay.

Also of note would have to be the film's gun-play. In most action movies people don't aim when shooting, but they at least try to look it and essentially most decent action films get away with that. Here, not only do people don't aim, they don't even look like their trying. There is actually a scene where the badguys storm into a building (that's empty) and just shoot everything. Maybe they thought they were in the AOL customer service office. Damn. 3/10

Rated R: violence and profanity

They're no match.

[lost-in-limbo · 6/10 · 29 July 2007]

A large group of international terrorists led by Soviet agent Rostove invade America unexpectedly and go on to turn country against each other. However after turning down the job, ex-government agent Matt Hunter takes up the assignment, when they kill his friend in an attack that was aimed at him. Rostove and Hunter share a past, and now Hunter wants to seem him dead and Rostove fearful obsession of Hunter could disrupt their plans of turning America against each other.

Who you kidding? No one can take down Chuck. Not even an army of international mercenaries! Gee this is gold medal stuff from Norris (whose name appears in bold gold letters to head the credits) and he even co-wrote the insane screenplay. Touchdown! Get ready for something so stupendously outrageous and wonderfully dumb that you'll get an all out assault on your senses and plenty "bang" for your buck. While your funny bone will get a real tickle out of it! Director Joseph Zito and actor (or better put karate champ) Chuck Norris tackle this preposterous, but always riveting anarchy macho action camp that the 80s loved to heave up. Plenty of gunfire assured and Norris showing off with those eye-opening moves (no not that bare chest sticking out of his always half/or unbuttoned shirt), but the main weapon of choice seemed to be anything that caused numerous explosions. Meaning a high and random casualty rate! Zito's bravura style never lets up, as the crunching stunt-work holds up strongly and the perverse violence towards innocence amazes. Joao Fernandes' professionally shoots the film with the right scope to capture the mayhem and Jay Chattaway's roaring score fits ruggedly into the mix.

A denim wearing Norris is looking comfortably stiff and expressionless throughout as former CIA agent Matt Hunter. The excellent Richard Lynch goes monstrously hammy as the mastermind villain Soviet agent Rostov and Alexander Zale sticks to a rather icy and relaxed mode as his right-hand. Showing up in smaller parts is a bored looking Eddie Jones, the feisty and useless irritation that was Melissa Prophet and Billy Drago as a greasy drug dealer. Now that armadillo was a star. I thought Norris was going to have a buddy to work off, but it seem to get the boot.

The hysterical premise is corn, laughable and downright punishing in its look at the heart of America and Reagan-era that turns the country upside down. It done with serious faces, which only makes it more stupid and plot holes are that large due to probably all of those explosions. Norris character must've been so gifted in that he was the everywhere man with his pick-up truck. How does he do it? How does he know? Because he was at the right place at the right time to prevent what he could… well 99% of the time. However nothing beats how he manages to disappear then reappear to stump those villains. They didn't know what hit them! The juvenile script on the other-hand did, but these carefree one-liners were ridiculously fun and Norris always had a way with words. The less the better.

Loud and senseless gung-ho gusto. With security like Norris, America should never fear an invasion on their doorstep.

Probably the most famous film from the Cannon Group...

[AlsExGal · 4/10 · 11 September 2018]

...the Israel-based film company responsible for roughly 50% of all the B-movies made in the mid-80's. And that's a crying shame. This one is a doozy, even by their standards, and in some ways could be said to be the quintessential 80's action film: it's violent, features a lot of excessive explosions, is moronically jingoistic, and features drug-dealing Communist terrorists as the bad guys. Chuck Norris stars as a former Special Ops agent who has retired to the bayou, where he drives an airboat and captures gators with his Native American buddy. Chuck's introductory scene, at the controls of his airboat, shirtless and wearing a denim vest as his mullet flaps in the wind, tells you all you need to know about his character.

Richard Lynch co-stars as the villainous ex-Soviet agent Rostov, who has amassed a small army with plans to take over America. Their vicious assault on the typical American suburban neighborhood (during Christmastime, no less!) will set your patriotic blood boiling. It's up to Chuck, his jacked-up pickup truck, and his tiny machine guns, to save the day. Also featuring Melissa Prophet as a tepid love interest, but this movie doesn't really care about that kind of mushy stuff, so she's barely there. Slimy movie bad guy Billy Drago shares a scene with lead baddie Lynch, and it becomes a real sleaze-off as to who is the creepiest. Directed by Joseph Zito, and Chuck worked on the screenplay. At one point, Chuck takes time out to watch Earth vs the Flying Saucers on TV. Even during a Communist invasion, you have to take time for the good things in life.

Details not necessary. Rocket launchers more important.

[wheels128 · 9/10 · 24 August 2005]

Invasion U.S.A. can only be described as one of the finest examples of how to put brilliant action sequences before any vague realms of plot. But what if this movie was factually accurate? Here's a list of things I discovered while watching this film:

• When a large amount of cocaine is under the floor of a boat, and the people on that boat need to be moved, you shoot them all and they'll not only miraculously fall away from the door to the cocaine, but not one bag of coke will be damaged, despite firing about a thousand bullets at the boat.

• All Cuban refugees that arrive in the Florida area wear identical plain white underwear and shorts.

• Chuck Norris can single-handedly take down tens of terrorists, but needs help to take on one alligator.

• Prostitutes carry flick knives.

• The guards to a big drug dealer only need to be shot at twice, and they'll then die of fear. There's no other way to explain their deaths despite not being hit by either bullet sent in their direction.

• The main characters to a movie don't need any background. Rostov is known only by name, as is Hunter, while the terrorist 2IC isn't given a surname. No further details on the pasts of these characters are necessary for you to understand what's going on, especially the dream sequence.

• A terrorist leader who has no qualms about killing boatloads of refugees, houses of innocent people and blowing up shopping centres goes into uncontrollable rages about one-liners like "It's time to die."

• The head of Hunter's ex-agency (NSA? CIA? FBI? Who cares!) gets to his place via a rowboat, and comes alone.

• A variety of bad guys blow Hunter's house up with a lot of rocket launchers, machine guns and RPGs, with the intent of killing him - yet don't check that he's dead afterwards.

• Rocket launchers carry six rockets without the need to reload.

• Likewise, shotguns carry around 17 shots without the need to reload.

• Terrorists who have important business to get to don't do it, because they need to go into clubs to pick up cheap, old hookers who are slightly overweight.

• Between six guys with automatic weapons, they're unable to hit the windows in Chuck Norris's car, or put it out of commission. Despite firing around 500 bullets.

• Uzis are more accurate than any other weapon. Mostly because Chuck Norris is firing them.

• A professional photographer, when riding in a car that's attempting to chase a hostage-taking terrorist down, doesn't take any photos.

• It's impossible to blow up terrorists with their own bombs unless you deliver a one-liner first.

• School children sing "Row, row, row your boat..." for minutes endlessly while on a school bus.

• Chuck Norris catches up to a moving bus over 250 metres ahead of him, picks a bomb off it, catches up to a speeding car of terrorists, who are clearly a long way ahead of the bus, places the bomb on their car and drives off. In under 25 seconds. From a standing start.

• Automatic weapons, like shotguns and rocket launchers, carry more bullets than you can physically fit into the weapons.

• When you're involved in a fight with a fast opponent, where mobility and fast firing is imperative, a rocket launcher truly is the weapon of choice. Then again, it does hold six shots.

In closing, it's time to die.

America wasn't ready...but HE was!

[HarryLags · 7/10 · 19 October 2016]

Chuck Norris in the role of ex-CIA bad-ass Matt Hunter, clearly a man not to be messed with. He is a one-man army who comes to the rescue of the United States when a spy attempts an invasion. Is INVASION U.S.A. a good movie? Well, it's okay, Chuck Norris doesn't do much in the way of martial arts and is off screen way too often, and the supporting cast is pretty weak (the two Cannon character actors I was all psyched to see, Billy Drago and James Pax, get about a combined 2 minutes of screen time).

But– before you go throwing yourselves off of balconies– this is still a Norris/Cannon picture, and as such there are a handful of things that should tickle your fancy in this movie. In short, Invasion U.S.A. is a film about kicking several different types of ass,as the need arises.

But one things for sure is that Chuck is clearly doing a lot of the stuff in the film himself.. Not just the stunts, either. He actually wrestles a crocodile. Yes it's hogtied, but I doubt Stallone or Van Damme would ever mess with it. He's also clearly at ease handling an air boat, along with multiple other weapons and vehicles.

The only problem i have with this movie is that there is hardly any martial arts in it. But apart from that this movie has a crazy amount of action, including the destruction of an entire suburban street,so if you are in the mood for a mindless, action packed movie, Invasion USA starring Chuck Norris is the movie you want to see. It is actually a typical 80's Action Movie with lots of stuff blowing up with little conversation....what more do you want?

Great concept, horribly executed, but still fun

[mike_07737 · 5/10 · 29 June 2011]

A movie about 1000 or so guys invading the US and wreaking havoc could be pretty cool. However, this movie isn't trying to make a statement or show you anything other than Chuck Norris kicking ass and taking names. You get a little bit of development, but mostly what you get are setups for violence.

The technical problems are so myriad they almost can't be listed in total. Multiple shots without reloading from a single shot weapon, firing a LAW in a small hallway hitting a target 20 feet away with no damage to the hallway or anything else aside from the target, battle scenes that are so ridiculous they almost defy description.

But just suspend your knowledge of firearms, explosives, tactics, etc and enjoy the ride. Chuck drives, boats, dives, runs, kicks, punches, wisecracks, and saves the day in a thousand ways.

They Don´t Make Such Movies Any More!

[OldSwede · 6 July 2000]

This is an 80s Action-Movie you have never seen before. Of course, nowadays this flick looks ridiculous, but considering that in the early 80s there were no Action-Comedy-Movies (like "Lethal Weapon"), this is outstanding. I think, the plot is not very realistic but interesting. What if a bunch of crazy terrorists just blows up everything that is holy for the U.S.? Yeah, the Chuck-Norris-One-Man-Army is ludicrous but in the 80s we just didn´t have Jackie Chan. Besides that, the film is extremely violent. The scene with the two teenagers at the beach getting headshots for nothing but being on the wrong place at the wrong time is still giving me bad times. This is something, no other action-movie in the 80s had: They take no prisoners. The victims are all innocent and they even dare to kill kids! Last time this happened was when the little girl in "Assault on Precinct 13" got shot! Plus: If you like gunfights, this is the movie for you. I think, this film is underestimated. Not, because it´s good, but because it´s different. SPOILER ALERT! Memorable Scenes include: A Man gets shot in his nuts several times. A Woman sniffs cocaine and gets the straw beaten in her nose (after that she is thrown out a skyscraper-window). A Couple doing Petting on the beach earn headshots. Several houses get Bazooka-Shots during Christmas-Vacation. Hundreds of Immigrants from Cuba don´t get asylum but hot lead from an M-40.

It's Time To Die

[CitizenCaine · 2/10 · 17 November 2003]

It's time to die laughing at this mindless, gung ho, 80's action film brought to us by Golan/Globus Productions, co-written by Chuck Norris no less. Possibly Norris' worst film. This is a near plot less movie, with no redeeming characteristics whatsoever. There are character actions that either go unexplained or make absolutely no sense in here. The character of the female "journalist" is one example. At one point, I wish Norris would have just pointed his grenade launcher at her and done us a favor. She is very obnoxious, but then again, Norris wrote some of the script. Richard Lynch is evil incarnate as some terrorist mastermind, who has clashed with Norris in the past. However, his motives are never explained for invading the Miami area; maybe it's cheap to film in the Miami area. A number of scenes are downright tasteless as well, such as the shopping mall massacre at Christmas. Norris comes up with a number of zinger lines though to remind us how laughable this mess is. Supposedly this film holds the all-time record for body count, nearly 200 or so! I have an idea to film this movie in a more cost effective manner. Have a bunch of middle school boys write a story about everything they want to blow up, and prop up a weapon or two in the hands of a cigar store Indian with a beard, who likes racing around in a pickup truck. Cut to one of those electric football games from the 70's with toy soldiers on it, plug it in, turn it up, and watch the soldiers scatter. It's time now. 1/2 star of 4 for unintentional laughs.

Maybe the best movie Chuck has ever made

[sveknu · 7/10 · 24 June 2006]

After watching lots of disappointments starring Chuck Norris ("Breaker Breaker" and "Hero and the Terror", to name a few), this came to me as a surprise. The plot is of course totally ridiculous (terrorists trying to invade America in 1988!), but that didn't matter. That is just a signal to the viewers: Leave your brains outside the room before entering and watching this movie. The movie has several really good action scenes, and Chuck Norris is just so superior and so bad-a** compared to the terrorists that it's really entertaining. A fun movie for at Saturday evening with your friends.

My verdict here is 6 out of 10.

Typical

[srobi280 · 3/10 · 24 April 2006]

What we've got here is your typical 80s action movie. Predictable plot, lots of explosions, bad acting, bad one-liners, clichés galore, its all in there. It all follows a formula. Terrorists (Russians, Germans, Chinese, Middle Eastern, pick one) are planning an invasion of the USA/to hijack something/to kidnap someone important. They start their attack, everyone is clueless and helpless except for our hero, who single handedly takes them out and gets the girl.

This movie, except for the getting the girl part, follows the formula religiously. The invasion starts on the beaches of Florida, where the bad guys somehow already have trucks waiting for them. The terrorists, in this case, are Russians. What a surprise! Nobody in the USA seems to be aware of the imminent threat, except for our hero Chuck Norris. They go around blowing random things up. Now, if this movie had good action in it, like Die Hard or Rambo, it would be good. It is, after all, an action movie, right? However, the action is so bad, and the one-liners are so corny, this movie doesn't even satisfy the "brainless action movie" category. In fact, it makes you want to eat your own hand. Somehow Norris has a sixth sense, and he knows where the bad guys are going to strike next, even before anything bad happens. He randomly keeps appearing to save the day and kills the terrorists. In a surprising "twist", Norris doesn't "get the girl". But that is about the only surprise in this predictable movie. The characters are so shallow, so emotionless, that they are practically robots. The only reason this movie gets 3 stars out of 10, and not 1 star, is because at times it was so awful, it was funny.

Invasion, have to get away...

[fmarkland32 · 7/10 · 14 June 2006]

Chuck Norris stars as Matt Hunter (Persumably no relation to Michael Dudikoff's character in Avenging Force) a one man army who single handedly protects the US of A from Russian terrorists looking to take over our country for mostly obscure reasons. Invasion USA is the perfect bad movie, some movies are dull and stupid (Tango and Cash) some are hilariously misguided (Gymkata) and some are made just to provide fireballs and provide a right wing message so overwrought that it could only be made in the Reagan era. (Like this one) Invasion USA works as campy entertainment due to the whitebread normality that predates the movie's terrorism. Indeed one scene in particular has our main bad guy Rostov(Richard Lynch) sneer "They make it so easy, don't they?!" after watching a family put up the Christmas tree. This of course adds a level of pretentious goofiness which make the results quite fun to say the least. Now in terms of quality is what makes this a one star or three star film, as much as I hate to admit it, Invasion USA is made professionally well and the action sequences are well staged. Making this the perfect stupid 80's action flick. Also of note is in theaters everyone burst out in laughs during a gun fight which had an entire baseball team hit the floor when the shots were fired. If anything else, this is what Red Dawn should have been.

* * * out of 4-(Good)

Another Chuck Norris Vehicle

[Bayjohn · 4/10 · 22 February 1999]

People complain about Kevin Costner making self-indulgent films, but Chuck Norris has hit an all time low portraying himself as the ultimate bad-ass one-man army. The story is convincing enough, but the direction is one-sided and the stunts are too staged. The only real excitement is the shootout in the shopping mall. But if you're a Chuck Norris fan and are looking for an action film geared specifically for his talents, this movie is for you!

"Tell Rostov it's time to die."

[utgard14 · 7/10 · 22 April 2014]

Commies invade Florida led by ol' coke nose himself, Richard Lynch. Little do the Reds know, bearded former CIA agent Chuck Norris is here to defend the USA! Norris punches, kicks, shoots, and explodes his way through the enemy forces. He singlehandedly wards off an invasion of the United States. If that doesn't redefine badass, I don't know what does. Many classic scenes and lines. Loaded with testosterone. Super violent in the best Cannon tradition. Norris is excellent in what might be my favorite movie of his. Richard Lynch is a pretty scary individual that I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. Billy Drago has a memorable scene. I don't think it's a huge spoiler to say he dies but HOW he dies you will have to watch to find out. You won't see it coming, trust me. Essential viewing for fans of Norris, Cannon, and action movie buffs.

A slice of 80's paranoia.

[haildevilman · 5/10 · 11 May 2007]

In 1985, when this film was out, it was a rocking thriller that any of Norris' fans would have given their thumbs to see.

It has NOT aged well.

The plot itself, about communists invading America, was a little far-fetched even for then. A good "what if" scenario at the most.

But when Chuck cuts loose, watch out.

A series of action scenes that make ol' Chuck out to be nothing less than a superhero. The bomb on the bus. The bomb in church. The truck chase. The supermarket shoot-out. The man had ESP and ice in his veins. As great as these scenes may have looked, reality was non-existent.

When Rostov firebombs the homes on Christmas eve however, it was sad to see. Seeing the little girl crying in her front yard while her home and family burn down will NOT be easy to see. Showing kids playing in the street and people getting Christmas shopping out of their cars before the carnage brought it home. This was the "This Rostov guy is SCUM" scene. Made you hate him even more.

Kudos to Richard Lynch. He does make a great villain.

The Commies are coming! The Commies are coming! Save us Chuck Norris!

[Woodyanders · 10/10 · 13 August 2006]

Our country is in big trouble: a ragtag multi-ethnic guerrilla army of nefarious Communist terrorists led by no-account Russian psycho Rostov (veteran screen villain Richard Lynch in peak nasty'n'snarly form) have washed up on the Florida coast. These horrible scumbuckets first slaughter a boat full of helpless Cuban refugees. Next they butcher a libidinous teen couple making out on the beach. Then they blow up six suburban houses populated by folks merrily celebrating the yuletide holiday with a single rocket launcher. They even gun down nice Latino youths. Worse yet, they have the appalling gall to attack a mall at the height of the Christmas shopping season. Why, these foul scum not only attempt to blow up a church holding a mass, but also a school bus loaded with little children happily singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."

But have no fear, good Americans. Thankfully we got Matt Hunter (legendary martial arts champion and hopelessly wooden thespian Chuck Norris, who co-wrote the senseless script) to save the day. Who's Matt Hunter? Well, apparently he's some kind of former government agent, although we never are told any specific details about his background. Does it matter? Not in the least. Moreover, Hunter has the magical ability to materialize seemingly out of thin air in his souped-up pick-up truck whenever he's needed to stomp some evil commie butt. Nonstop wall-to-wall mondo destructo ultra-violent carnage is the order of the day here. And boy does director Joseph Zito really pour it on thick, blowing up lots of stuff real good, staging insanely go-for-broke vehicular action sequences with rip-snorting aplomb, and racking up an astonishingly hefty body count. Better still, both Joao Fernandes's slick photography and Jay Chattaway's robust, rousing score are up to snuff, Melissa Prophet gives a spectacularly terrible performance as a spunky, yet troublesome lady reporter, Eddie Jones just takes up space as a useless FBI agent, Billy Drago briefly pops up as a slimy drug dealer, the basic overwrought tone represents Reagan era Red Scare paranoia at its most ludicrously hysterical, and Norris cuts loose with a steady series of truly groan-inducing cheesy quips every time he commits a heroic feat. Now, is this film any good? No, it most certainly ain't. In fact, it's exceptionally bad, stupid and utterly mindless. But there's no denying that it's a great deal of so-totally-dreadful-it's-oddly-delectable Grade Z schlocky fun. A real four star high camp 80's trash movie hoot and a half.

it's time to die

[movieman_kev · 7/10 · 23 March 2007]

When an old rival and commie scum, Mikhail Rostov, plans to invade the USA, and create chaos, he makes the supreme misstep of killing Chuck Norris's Indian friend. Now it's time for Mikhail to die. This is a perfectly watchable, highly quotable Chuck Norris film. It takes a little while to get going, but once it does and good old Chuck is kicking all kinds of commie ass the film really comes into it's own. "Red Dawn" is definitely the better commie ass kicking film hands down, but this movie is nothing to sneeze at either. The film could have lost the girl reporter though as she did absolutely nothing in affect to the plot in any single way.

My grade: B

The ultimate low-point in Reagan-era anti-communist action cinema.

[barnabyrudge · 1/10 · 30 April 2007]

Holy Christ! It takes a lot of willpower to endure Invasion USA from start to finish in one sitting, but it would take even more of an effort to track down a film with a more brainless plot. The only possible target audience who might forgive gaping credibility holes like the ones on display here would be tough schoolboys. But the film completely alienates a young audience by concentrating on hard drug scenes, the incessant slaughter of innocent people, and non-stop violence. It's tempting to laugh the film off like some bad joke, but it's awfully hard to shake that nagging suspicion the film is meant to be taken with deadly seriousness.

Ex-CIA agent Matt Hunter (Chuck Norris) lives a reclusive lifestyle in the swamplands of Florida. A task force of soldiers with Russian-sounding names (this was, after all, made during the Reagan years amidst hysterical anti-communist paranoia) suddenly attacks Florida and causes tremendous destruction and loss of life. Civilians are gunned down, houses are bazooka-ed and enemy tanks roll ominously through the streets in a lightning-quick invasion. Hunter comes out of retirement and single-handedly fights back against the invaders. Among his many feats, he saves a school bus when the bad guys attach a bomb to its side (he drives up alongside the bus, calmly removes the explosive, then pursues the bad guys and tosses the bomb back into their car, quipping "You forgot this!" as he does so!!!) Ultimately, Hunter's quest is to catch the leader of the invasion, Rostov (Richard Lynch). He wipes out hundreds of enemy soldiers, suffering barely a scratch in the process, until he and Rostov come face to face for a final showdown.

It would help if Norris registered a single emotion during the film, if only to make him half believable as a character. But there's no situation he can't handle, no enemy that is a match for him, so any potential for excitement is lost. He merely cruises around Florida dispatching the villains with ludicrous ease in one laughable set piece after another. His expression never changes and there's never a flicker of fear or doubt about him. Even on the level of a mindless exploitation film Invasion USA stinks – there's no hint of a tongue-in-cheek approach to rationalise the violence, the action scenes are largely inept, and the film retreats so far into jingoistic fantasy that it becomes farcical. The Golan-Globus production company brought some pretty dreadful movies into our lives in the '80s (Cobra, Firewalker, Allan Quatermain And The Lost City Of Gold, Death Wish 3 to name a few), but nothing can compare to this travesty. It couldn't be any worse, and it isn't even good for laughs. File Invasion USA under "avoid-at-all-costs" and try to forget that it even exists!!!