You Won’t Believe Chuck Norris Is Back as a Sci-Fi Android in This Underrated 2024 Action Flick!

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It was believed for quite some time that action star Chuck Norris had retired from acting. This assumption arose after he participated in The Expendables 2, along with other ’80s and ’90s legends, back in 2012. Despite having a small role, his amusing “Cobra died after biting me” line left audiences in stitches. After that, he made brief appearances on TV shows like The Goldbergs in 2012 and Hawaii Five-0 in 2020. However, his whereabouts have remained elusive since then.

For more than a decade, people didn’t hear anything about Chuck being involved in big-screen roles. He remained silent, neither verifying nor refuting rumors about him retiring from playing tough guys. However, in 2024, the direct-to-streaming sci-fi movie “Agent Recon” was launched, featuring the legendary action star. This film is a satisfying choice for fans who love Chuck as a skilled avenger, complete with an explosive ending. Regrettably, the movie didn’t generate much excitement, despite having a better script than most of his previous projects.

Chuck Norris Is an AI-powered Android in ‘Agent Recon’

Exploring the ongoing fictional clash between aliens and humans, and the varying tactics used to manage this conflict, “Agent Recon” stands out as an engaging, multi-layered production that mirrors the intensity and visual appeal of Chuck Norris’ iconic films. Directed by Derek Ting, it is the third installment in the Agent trilogy, having started with “Agent Intelligence” in 2017, followed by “Agent Revelation” in 2021. Fortunately, you don’t have to watch the earlier movies as a brief voiceover recaps the events that transpired.

The film series centers on malevolent extraterrestrials known as Kinians, a covert agency committed to combating them, and a mysterious red powder that either lets the aliens control you or grants unique powers. The newest episode kicks off with an unsuccessful assault, leading to a helicopter crash that claims Alastair’s life. This wealthy character (previously played by Michael Dorn from “Star Trek: The Next Generation”) had been exploring various cutting-edge technologies. As a result, his people were capable of duplicating his brain’s consciousness, transferring it to the cloud, and then transferring it into an android body called Colonel Alastair – strikingly similar to Chuck Norris in appearance.

Currently, Colonel Alastair is spearheading an undercover military operation, focused on an urgent assignment that requires them to probe an energy anomaly at a clandestine facility situated in New Mexico. The authorities harbor suspicions that this site might be involved in research using extraterrestrial technology, prompting Alastair to collaborate with Colonel Green (Marc Singer) and enlist the help of the new recruit, Jim Yung (Derek Ting), who possesses extraordinary abilities, to ensure their mission concludes victoriously.

The team’s suspicions prove true upon reaching the secluded outpost, as someone is indeed meddling with alien biology. The cinematography used here effectively intensifies the feeling of impending danger. However, before they can take any action, the brave protagonists are ambushed by a shadowy figure with unprecedented speed and power. This enigmatic adversary also commands an army of faceless, drone-like soldiers in dark uniforms. Never have movie aliens looked more threatening, even though their schemes seem absurd and bound to fail. These hostile forces swiftly overpower the commando squad, plunging them into a struggle for survival.

‘Agent Recon’ Feels Like an Amalgam of ‘Predator,’ ‘Terminator,’ and ‘Universal Soldier’

It’s intriguing to note that Chuck Norris, despite not being as adventurous with genre experimentation during his prime action star days, decided to venture into the realm of science fiction relatively late in his career. Unlike some of his legendary counterparts, he didn’t explore many sci-fi roles early on. In fact, before his movie Agent Recon, his only foray into sci-fi was Silent Rage, where the science aspect was minimal and the focus remained on action. Similarly, he delved briefly into supernatural and fantasy realms with films like Hellbound and Forest Warrior, but these were his only significant ventures in those genres.

During that time, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Jean-Clare Van Damme, and others were keeping themselves busy with various action roles. While Arnold had Terminator, Running Man, Predator, Conan, and more, Stallone starred in Judge Dredd and Demolition Man. Jean-Claude Van Damme was in Cyborg and Universal Soldier. Among the action stars of the era, Steven Seagal might be the only one who shares Chuck Norris’ focus on a specific type of role.

Was there a shift or change in Chuck Norris during his time working alongside other stars on the set of The Expendables 2? Since then, he has transitioned from a sitcom to a science fiction film. He is also scheduled to feature in the Australian zombie movie, Zombie Plane, later in 2025.

Chuck seems to have been influenced by his contemporaries for his latest film. The movie’s storyline involving aliens ties it to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Predator, but instead of one attacker, there are more. What sets this film apart is the perspective shots from the aliens, creating some of the scariest moments and adding a deeper emotional impact compared to prolonged views of extraterrestrials. Moreover, the actor playing an android in the movie reminds us of The Terminator. It’s also worth mentioning the similarity to Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Universal Soldier with the appearance of super-powered soldiers.

Agent Recon carries an appealing blend of well-known action movie elements we’ve previously enjoyed. Despite its apparent modest budget, it manages to serve up comparable excitement levels. Remarkably, it accomplishes its mission while also challenging the conventional one-person army narrative.

‘Agent Recon’ Could Have Been Better, But It Still Ticks All the “Chuck Norris Movie” Boxes

Despite lacking high-quality special effects and being constrained by budget issues, Agent Recon is still remarkable. Just as a true Chuck Norris fan wouldn’t expect an Academy Award nomination from his movies, they don’t demand deep themes or innovative plots in this series either.

The majority of the actor’s movies are filled with imperfections, resulting in low Rotten Tomatoes ratings, but they find a home in the “so bad it’s good” genre. Critics were not enamored with the return film either, and their reservations make sense. It’s unfortunate that the intriguing sci-fi elements from the first half of the movie take a backseat to non-stop action in the second half, but dedicated fans won’t mind because they typically appreciate such action-packed sequences. Even though this action flick doesn’t feature Chuck Norris as an android for the first time, it still carries all the familiar hallmarks that we’ve come to expect.

Initially, what catches your attention is the gruff conversation style. For instance, “I’ll give you so many left hooks, you’ll be asking for a right?” You’ll find such lines scattered throughout. Amidst the turmoil, the character exhibits no signs of emotional vulnerability. Interestingly, Norris often portrays characters who are veterans, active servicemen, or law enforcement officers in his films. In this story, he heads a special military unit, much like in Delta Force.

In every Chuck Norris film, I find that the divide between right and wrong is unambiguous. The antagonists, though extraterrestrial in this instance, are undeniably evil, while our hero stands ready to deliver a swift and powerful blow. The narrative doesn’t veer off course either; the objective is clearly laid out from the start, and by the film’s end, all loose ends are neatly tied up.

It was typically thought that Chuck performs better as a solitary figure, but it’s been discovered that he becomes even more captivating when he’s in the company of others. Following “The Expendables 2”, it seems he recognized this trend and decided to join a film with multiple main characters, explaining why he agreed to star in a movie with several other leading roles.

In this type of movie, there are usually some characters who could be removed without much impact on the story, but in this case, everyone plays a significant role. Chuck’s character is primarily focused on strategy and coordination, but it isn’t until the climax that he really kicks into high gear, performing actions reminiscent of Invasion USA. Make sure to catch Agent Recon on Hulu when it’s available!

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2025-04-28 01:05