MIA2: Braddock's Origin Story... Sort Of?

Okay, so, just finished Missing in Action 2: The Beginning. Yeah, the title's a bit on the nose, huh? It's supposed to be a prequel, showing how Chuck Norris' Colonel Braddock got captured in the first place back in Vietnam. Honestly, I went in expecting a total cheese-fest, and... well, I wasn't disappointed. It's got that classic '80s action movie vibe, complete with ridiculously over-the-top violence and bad guys who deserve every punch they get. This time they feature a brutal prison camp run by some seriously sadistic Vietnamese officers. Braddock's being tourtured, along with a few other unlucky American soldiers. It's not exactly subtle, but it does make you root for Braddock's inevitable escape, which, duh, we all know is coming. If he didn't escape, there'd be no Missing in Action, right? The prison camp scenes are probably the most memorable, although maybe not for the right reasons. It's all just SO extreme. And the guy who played Colonel Yin was super evil, but also kind of cartoonish, you know? Like, you could tell he was having a blast hamming it up. The action isn't quite as polished as the first movie, felt a bit more low budget, but Norris still does Norris things, so not too much complaining here. Overall, it's a decent watch if you're in the mood for some mindless action and old-school Chuck Norris awesomeness. Don't expect a deep, thought-provoking war film, you'll be disappointed if you do. This is pure escapism, plain and simple. Plus, it adds a little bit of backstory to Braddock, even if it's mostly 'he was captured, tortured, and pissed off'. It sets the stage for his one-man army routine in the original. Also, it's totally bonkers that the directors aren't listed anywhere. How does that even happen? I wonder what happened behind the scenes. Anyway, I'm gonna go watch something a little less… intense now. Maybe a rom-com, lol. Any recommendations?