Second in Command
Encyclopedia
Second in Command is a 2006
action film
directed by Simon Fellows
, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme
. It was released direct-to-video
in the United States
, Belgium
, and Germany
on May 2, 2006. It has been rated R by the MPAA for violence and some language. The film was made in Bucharest
, Romania
.
) is a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL
, sent to the Eastern Europe
an nation of Moldova
. Keenan is sent to the U.S. Embassy in Moldova's capital city to become the new Security Attaché there.
When he arrives, Keenan learns that Moldova is in the middle of a civil war. At the embassy, Keenan meets with Ambassador George Norland (Colin Stinton
), who makes Keenan the deputy ambassador.
Recently, the U.S. installed a new government in Moldova, and it's a government led by Moldova's newly-elected president Yuri Amirev (Serban Celea).
Amirev wants the nation to be run as a democracy, but under the command of Anton Tavarov (Velibor Topic), Communist insurgents have caused a riot at the presidential palace, threatening the fragile democracy.
The insurgents are loyal to dictative former president Alexei Kirilov (Costel Lupea), who is a communist who abused Moldava's people.
When the palace guards start firing on the insurgents without Amirev's go-ahead, the insurgents storm the palace, demanding Amirev's head.
Keenan volunteers to bring Amirev to the embassy. But events reach critical mass, and the insurgents open fire. Keenan barely makes it back with Amirev, but the fight isn't over yet.
Fifty Americans are holed up in the embassy, and Tavarov and his massive army have arrived at the gates, with plans to crash the building and drag Amirev out by any means necessary. To add to Keenan's problems, Norland is killed by a rocket that was launched by one of Tavarov's men.
To defend the embassy, Keenan has only 15 Marines
, CIA bureaucrat Frank Gaines (William Tapley), limited ammunition, and his martial arts skills to hold Tavarov's army off until American reinforcements arrive. To make matters worse, Keenan's girlfriend, reporter Michelle Whitman (Julie Cox
), is one of the hostages.
With Tavarov's crew getting in position for attack, a power struggle takes place between Keenan and Gaines; with help hours away, it will be up to Keenan to rescue the hostages.
. 40 percentage of Rotten Tomatoes users liked the movie.
2006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
directed by Simon Fellows
Simon Fellows
- Films :Jump: Gavin is about to end it all from a Soho rooftop when he is challenged by some witnesses.Blessed: A fertility clinic visit becomes an unfathomable nightmare for a woman who's impregnated with the devil's DNA....
, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
. It was released direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on May 2, 2006. It has been rated R by the MPAA for violence and some language. The film was made in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.
Plot summary
Navy Commander Sam Keenan (Jean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
) is a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
, sent to the Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
an nation of Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
. Keenan is sent to the U.S. Embassy in Moldova's capital city to become the new Security Attaché there.
When he arrives, Keenan learns that Moldova is in the middle of a civil war. At the embassy, Keenan meets with Ambassador George Norland (Colin Stinton
Colin Stinton
Colin Stinton is a Canadian-born actor who immigrated to the United States in 1952, and now lives in London. He often portrays fictional American politicians, lawyers and government agents. He recently played Neal Daniels in The Bourne Ultimatum...
), who makes Keenan the deputy ambassador.
Recently, the U.S. installed a new government in Moldova, and it's a government led by Moldova's newly-elected president Yuri Amirev (Serban Celea).
Amirev wants the nation to be run as a democracy, but under the command of Anton Tavarov (Velibor Topic), Communist insurgents have caused a riot at the presidential palace, threatening the fragile democracy.
The insurgents are loyal to dictative former president Alexei Kirilov (Costel Lupea), who is a communist who abused Moldava's people.
When the palace guards start firing on the insurgents without Amirev's go-ahead, the insurgents storm the palace, demanding Amirev's head.
Keenan volunteers to bring Amirev to the embassy. But events reach critical mass, and the insurgents open fire. Keenan barely makes it back with Amirev, but the fight isn't over yet.
Fifty Americans are holed up in the embassy, and Tavarov and his massive army have arrived at the gates, with plans to crash the building and drag Amirev out by any means necessary. To add to Keenan's problems, Norland is killed by a rocket that was launched by one of Tavarov's men.
To defend the embassy, Keenan has only 15 Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, CIA bureaucrat Frank Gaines (William Tapley), limited ammunition, and his martial arts skills to hold Tavarov's army off until American reinforcements arrive. To make matters worse, Keenan's girlfriend, reporter Michelle Whitman (Julie Cox
Julie Cox
Julie Cox is an English-Scottish actress perhaps best known for her role as Princess Irulan in the Sci Fi Channel's 2000 Dune miniseries and its 2003 follow-up, Children of Dune....
), is one of the hostages.
With Tavarov's crew getting in position for attack, a power struggle takes place between Keenan and Gaines; with help hours away, it will be up to Keenan to rescue the hostages.
Main cast
- Jean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
as Navy Seal Commander Sam Keenan - William Tapley as CIA Agent Frank Gaines
- Julie CoxJulie CoxJulie Cox is an English-Scottish actress perhaps best known for her role as Princess Irulan in the Sci Fi Channel's 2000 Dune miniseries and its 2003 follow-up, Children of Dune....
as Michelle Whitman - Alan McKennaAlan McKenna (actor)Alan McKenna is a British actor who played the recurring character Tony Andrews in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He is best known for his role of Patrick McGuire in the BBC soap Doctors, which he had a minor recurring role from 2001, 2003 and he returned in September 2010.His great aunt was Odette...
as Captain Frank Baldwin - Razvan Oprea as Devereaux
- Serban Celea as President Yuri Amirev
- Razaaq AdotiRazaaq AdotiRazaaq Adoti is a British actor, producer and screenwriter.-Early life:Adoti was born in Forest Gate, London of Nigerian descent . He landed his first professional screen role on the British television show, Press Gang, playing a police officer...
as Gunnery Sergeant Earl "Gunny" Darnell - Vlad IvanovVlad IvanovVlad Ivanov is an Romanian actor of Lipovan origin.-Filmography:* Moș Goriot - Gondureau* Trăgător de elită - Mikhail Beslan* Snuff-Movie - The policeman* Viața fără ea - Adrian...
as RSO John Lydon - Warren Derosa as Mike Shustec
Reception
The film opened in 24th place with $1,04 million in the rentals chart. The film currently holds average rating 5/10 stars on Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
. 40 percentage of Rotten Tomatoes users liked the movie.