It's 1968 north east Bronx. Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate) comes from a middle class family but follows one-legged criminal mentor Kirby (Keith David). After graduation, Curtis enlists in the Marines. His friend Skip (Chris Tucker) vows to avoid the war by going to college. Skip flunks out and joins Curtis' squad. Their other friend Jose (Freddy Rodriguez) is drafted into the Army. After four harrowing years of war, Curtis tries to adjust to civilian life. He discovers his old girlfriend Juanita had their baby. With a growing family and the lost of his job, he reunites with his troubled Vietnam vet friends, Kirby and Juanita's revolutionary sister Delilah in a scheme to rob an armor truck.
After the impressive debut of 'Menace II Society', the Hughes brothers may have over-reached. This is too ambitious. The war movie part is surprisingly competent. It doesn't excel and may be beyond their abilities. After the war, it struggles to get the emotional tension. Like the Hughes, Larenz Tate may not be up to the challenge. The personal post-war struggle is compelling but could be much more. The final shootout doesn't have quite the thrills but has plenty of blood.
After the impressive debut of 'Menace II Society', the Hughes brothers may have over-reached. This is too ambitious. The war movie part is surprisingly competent. It doesn't excel and may be beyond their abilities. After the war, it struggles to get the emotional tension. Like the Hughes, Larenz Tate may not be up to the challenge. The personal post-war struggle is compelling but could be much more. The final shootout doesn't have quite the thrills but has plenty of blood.