Damage

The Damage tagline is “bring the pain,” so it could be that there’s some filmic kinship with Roadhouse through its Zen koan, “pain don’t hurt.”

But Damage is kind of a reverse Roadhouse (the remake, that is): instead of a cage fighter being pulled into bouncing, the arrow points in the opposite direction.

Stone Cold Steve Austin stars as Brickner, an ex-con holding down two jobs, one in construction, the other, as a bouncer at a sleazy tavern in Seattle (capably portrayed by Vancouver, as per usual).

During his stint in the clink for manslaughter, Brickner made epistolary promises to the wife of the man he killed, offering up any kind of restitution he could once he’s released. And it just so happens the woman’s daughter needs a very expensive, life-saving, cardiac surgery.

And what better way to come up with 250k than via cage fighting? (it’s funny, many a current UFC fighter has recounted the $500 purses they earned in these kinds of circuits, frequently held at Indian reservations or parking lots).

Damage then, is a bit like the Jean Claude Van Damme vehicle, Lionheart, which also had high-stakes pit-fighting, where JCVD’s Lyon was compelled to financially assist his sister-in-law.

Brickner is introduced to the world of cage fighting through Reno, a manager played by Walton Goggins, channeling his inner Joe Pantoliano, who sees potential in the ex-con.

And Brickner, tournament-style, has to run through a bunch of mesomorphs – with predictable results.

*** (out of 5)

Genre fans, check out the book, Mine’s Bigger Than Yours! The 100 Wackiest Action Movies.