Andy Sidaris (1931–2007)

“Picasso Trigger” has all the extravagant blazing guns, wild action and big boobs that you would expect from an Andy Sidaris film, but this time it is wrapped up in some strangely over-complex storytelling. The basic plot is simple enough: an international villain, codenamed Picasso Trigger (John Aprea) is assassinated by power-mad drug lord Miguel Ortiz (Rodrigo Obregon). This leads to the involvement of various members of the Agency including Travis Abilene (Steve Bond), the beautiful Donna (Dona Speir) and the perky Taryn (Hope Marie Carlton). With their associates they set about eliminating Ortiz and his slimy henchmen but they soon realise that they have been manipulated and set up. The Sidaris screenplay for “Picasso Trigger” unfortunately falls over itself in the early part of the film as multiple characters are introduced without any clear feel as to their role in the story. It all comes into focus eventually but it makes for a needlessly confused opening half hour. I don’t suppose narrative coherence is the critical requirement of a Sidaris film and the elements that are expected are there in spades. The film is bright and breezy, full of energy, pace and humour and looks and sounds great thanks to the sunny, polished photography of Howard Wexler and a joyfully jangly score by Gary Stockdale. There are multiple explosions, ludicrous gun battles, daft gadgets (including an exploding boomerang), crazy martial arts and a flood of bonkers characters. The women have limited acting ability but are all super-hot: Dona Speir and Hope Marie Carlton are perfect as the two uber-blonde, big-haired leads; Cynthia Brimhall is cool and elegant as Edy and Roberta Vasquez brings some buxom brunette appeal as deadly femme fatale, Pantera. Steve Bond makes for a decent Abilene; John Aprea is smooth as Picasso Trigger and Rodrigo Obregon is an appropriately dirty and malign villain. Overall this isn’t the best of the Andy Sidaris “Lethal Ladies” series but it is still great fun - totally unbelievable and implausible but at the same time wildly and stupidly entertaining.… (mais)