Shirtless Willem Defoe wearing leather pants and suspenders.

I mean, c'mon! What more do you need?

Ah yes. The film that inspired Streets of Rage the video game. How ironic. As I write this, there's a Streets of Rage movie in development right now. I wonder if Robin Shou will make a cameo or even Michael Pare... or BOTH! 😲

Imagine that. Tom Cody and Liu Kang in the same film.

This be a fun one to riff!

Willem Dafoe is a character named Raven Shaddock,wears leather and heavy makeup and his hair looks like soft serve. That should be mostly enough, but there's so much more.

Rick Moranis is a 'take-no-shit' talent manager who knocks people out, instead of the geeky nerd we're used to.

Diane Lane is a songstress captivating the nightlife of the low-lives.

So many characters play against the usual type that it's oddly enjoyable and surely provides plenty of material.

Other interesting side characters, some played by Bill Paxton, Ed Begley Jr and the dude who played Bubba in Forrest Gump all make memorable additions when you least expect them.

The true heart though, is the soulless, vacant, bland, vanilla lead Michael Paré, who makes scenes hilariously cliche, lose all legitimacy, and drains the one-liners of all fun and for lack of a better term, 'quippiness'. Watching him tank this movie single-handedly is supremely entertaining actually a bit of a shame considering what could have been if the director had gotten Tom Cruise as originally planned.

Also, there is fire that takes place mostly on the streets. Mostly.

Decent soundtrack, evil motorcycle gang running the town, lone drifter trying to save the day. Too bad they forgot important things like a script or likable characters.