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Seeing the recent teaser for BLACK DYNAMITE 2 [Update: oops, it's actually a teaser for OUTLAW JOHNNY BLACK, I saw the dynamite and jumped the gun] got me thinking about Michael Jai White again. Truthfully, I’m always thinking about MJW. Mostly,
I’m pondering why the hell is he not the certified national treasure that he
ought to be. The man has it all. He’s a great actor with superb comic timing,
an amazing martial artist, and he has a screen presence you can feel from the
next room. BLACK DYNAMITE
was a rare achievement, mixing a genuinely hilarious spoof with totally legit
action. So why is he still in the land
of under the radar VOD movies? Don’t get
me wrong, some of the most jaw dropping action flicks in over a decade have
been low budget video releases, but they are far from the public eye.
Of course, the low budget world has its advantages. The lack of studio interference allows for
greater freedom. Plots can be crazier,
characters quirkier, and, most importantly, the action can be given the loving
attention not afforded on a big budget, strict schedule shoot. This world also gave MJW the chance to
direct, with 2011’s NEVER BACK DOWN 2: THE BEATDOWN. In the tradition of UNDISPUTED II, it’s a
sequel to a bigger budget theatrical release that has almost no relationship to
the original. NBD2 was a solid flick
with a positive tone, but while MJW was the highlight of the film, he stuck to
a Mr. Miyagi role and left the fighting to his pupils. That’s a cruel tease in my book.
Five years later, MJW does my book right with the
redundantly titled yet thoroughly satisfying NEVER BACK DOWN: NO
SURRENDER.
The Capsule:
After a successful turn as a fight trainer rekindles his
fire, fallen UFC champion, Case Walker (Michael Jai White) is back in the ring. All he can get are two-bit bouts, though, since
his uncompromising fight ethic makes him dust chumps so quickly that no one
wants to fight him. He gets a glimpse of
the major leagues when he bumps into his old pal Brody James (Josh Barnett). Brody has signed up with high profile, no
holds barred Primortal Combat (PFC), and he wants Case to train him for the big
fight. Brody needs all the help he can
get, because his opponent is the 7-foot ‘roid raging “Psycho” Caesar Braga (Nathan
Jones, better known as the dude who tore out a truck engine with his bare hands
in MAD MAX: FURY ROAD). Case reluctantly
agrees and joins Brody in Thailand, much to the irritation of the suspicious
PFC training crew. As Case’s striped
down, no-nonsense methods start showing results, he catches the eye of the
media, and PFC head Hugo Vega (Esai Morales).
The slimy promoter thinks Case headlining the Braga fight will sell more
that with Brody, and is not above ruining a man’s life to see it happen. Can Case come out of the fight with his
friendship, his honor, and his skeleton intact?
NEVER BACK DOWN: NO SURRENDER is one of those sequels you
can jump into without needing to see the earlier movies. All the important details are established up
front. Case is an incredible
fighter. He cares more about integrity
than putting on a show. He has zero
tolerance for bullshit. He is too tough
to spell his name with a “y”. And not
matter how much he scowls, he’s a total sweetheart. 
Case has a similar moral compass as Bone, MJW’s mysterious,
street fighting avenger from BLOOD AND BONE, only more grounded and reluctant. All Case wants to do is keep to himself and
do what he does, but he has that kind of aura that draws well-meaning underdogs
and misfits to him like a magnet. As
much as he might want to tell everyone to piss off, it just isn’t in him. That doesn’t mean he has to be happy about
it, though. MJW gives some of the best
annoyed expressions in the business, right up there with Timothy Olyphant and
Michael Shannon (though I think that is just Shannon’s regular face). 
This is one of my favorite parts of the movie. In the beginning, Case is mocked by the
entire gym for being a crazy outsider, a joke.
He practices his unorthodox routines on stacks of tires and plywood
stands, ignoring all the jeers, politely countermanding Matty’s recommendation
for Brody. Over time, though, as Case’s
methods start to bear fruit, he wins everyone over. He becomes a begrudging mentor to the
hanger-on gym kids, detoxifies the atmosphere, and even gains the respect of
not-as-bad-as-he-first-seems Matty (he should still get rid of that tattoo,
though). 
Of course, he doesn’t win over eeeverybody in the gym.
Cobra (Eoin O'Brien) is the classic arrogant asshole who is idolized for
his ruthlessness in the ring. We
instantly hate him because he smirks at Case’s training techniques and loudly
asks his bros, “What the hell is this Bruce Lee shit?” He gets even worse when confronting Case
directly, laying on one racial slur after another, like calling him Blacky
Chan. Case just frowns and ignores him,
but when Cobra later asks around for a sparring partner, guess who volunteers?
There is a more impressive fight coming, but watching Case wipe the
floor with this dumbass is by far the most satisfying.
Much of the movie consists of Case training, motivating, and
being a good guy to people. He takes
time to squeeze in an adorably awkward romantic subplot with Brody’s publicist,
Myca (Gillian White). I liked her right
away from the way she called—and shot down—Brody on all his casual sexual harassment
bullshit. MJW gets to use some great
self-deprecating humor, showing that while Case is the consummate professional
at fighting, he is a bumbling mess in social situations. 
Esai Morales’ Hugo Vega is a complex character. On the one hand, he is a deplorable,
heartless businessman who bullies and demeans his fighters into doping. Plus, he came up with the name Primortal
Combat, which is not only dumb, but doesn’t have enough words to abbreviate
as PFC. On the other, he arranges Case to
be in the big fight, so thanks for that.
Don’t worry, MJW isn’t a bastard, he doesn’t deprive us of
Case V Braga. And yes, the payoff is
worth the wait. Even without his
transparent rubber Rictus mask, Nathan Jones is a monster. MJW is not a small man, but Jones towers over
him like it was being shot by Peter Jackson.
It’s all real, though. This is
where this sort of movie shines. All the
action is shot in long, wide takes. None
of the Hollywood, quick cut tight shots designed to fool you into thinking something
cool happened. The fight is well
balanced, as well. For the first time,
Case doesn’t completely dominate. There
are some dicey moments where it looks all over for him. Then comes the great gloves off moment, one
that feels more earned than predictable, when Case locks down and delivers.
Michael Jai White has a half-dozen pots on the stove. Coming up for him is the Olympic dream team
of action stars, TRIPLE THREAT (I’m not sure if he is pro or anti threat), and
a role in the next movie by S. Craig Zahler, director of BONE TOMAHAWK and
BRAWL IN CELLBLOCK 99, that has me excited (and nervous). And, of course, BLACK DYNAMITE 2 OUTLAW JOHNNY BLACK. If those don’t elevate MJW to superstar
status, I just don’t understand you, America.
C Chaka
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