Lack of good storyline.

Good concept, poorly executed.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

I've never heard of this Cannon Golan / Globus production, but there were some enticing names attached to this late 80s project… director / co-writer John Stockwell along with actors Barry Corbin and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The plot stays conservative, but it achieves what it sets out to do. A young Chicago cop heads south to go undercover with a small narcotic team in a South Carolina high school. There he goes about trying to get down just who killed his partner, while also breaking the local drug ring. It's quite straight-laced, little to no distractions (you know romance, conflict and popularity) that you might get with a feature where the story basis is set-up in a high school backdrop. "You're a hell of pitcher." Since it hardly strays, then it decides to build on its mystery (following up on the original investigation leads) and thriller elements, which is effectively pulled off. The material manages to stay one step-ahead, while going directions that one probably wouldn't expect and this is made more interesting for a good sense of place where the humidity shows and tension boils. Its narrative build-up is somewhat better than the final payoff, but its characters and certain dark edge keeps you hooked. A constant dangerous vibe lingers, while the humour is moodily low-key. Stockwell's streamlined delivery keeps on the move, but still there's a laid-back air to everything going on and a real authentic roughness. Now pull out those smoking, but elastic guitar riffs we would find in these 80s thrillers. Performances are suitably able with David Neidorf likable in the lead and his co-support Corbin is solid and Jennifer Jason Leigh is delectably spunky. Also there are good turns by David Harris, Kathleen Whilhoite, Brad Leland, Carmen Argenziano and a brief appearance or two by Mark Holten as one of the undercover agents.

Yes, it's dumb. And predictable. And the production values are bad (not to mention the continuity). But, darn it, I just love this little flick! The clothes and hair! This was when I first fell in love with Jennifer Jason Leigh - all hot and sweaty with the Louisana heat! The locale is captured nicely, and they obviously all know this isn't "Lawrence of Arabia" or anything.But I know what really makes this movie stick in mind is the Todd Rundgren score ("Hello, it's me. You-oo-ooo, you know that I'd be with you if I could ...") His first full score, I believe.Great to put on in the background while you work on another project.

For me, "Undercover" is something like the unfunny version of "Plain Clothes," and it is the second film of writer/director John Stockwell (you may remember him best as car jock Harlan in "My Science Project"). Two cops out of Louisiana play Narcs to a South Carolina high school after a murder erupts and a local drug ring is considered prime suspect. There are some action moments, but sometimes this movie is slower than the southern heat the characters wade through. However, despite the rather cumbersome plot, this movie may be appealing to fans of obscure 80s action/dramas, fans of John Stockwell who may be interested in his earlier work (and although he wears the hat of both writer and director in this film, he does have a blink-and-you-miss-him role on the television someone is watching), and it may also appeal to fans of other 80s acting favorites (Jennifer Jason Lee and "North Shore's" John Philbin, in particular). This is more like the type of a movie you would watch because of who is in it.If you enjoy the story, I would recommend "Plain Clothes," a comedy starring Arliss Howard and Seymour Cassel in a similar story: after a teacher is mysteriously found dead and a cop's brother is prime suspect, he goes undercover to investigate at a local high school. At least you'll get some laughs from the second one (which also features my other 80s favorite, Max Perlich).Undercover isn't great, but for some, there may be reason to watch it (if you can find it).

Saw it years ago it was so awful I forgot about it; then I rented it again and lived to regret it. This film is predictable, boring, and looks like a tv show. By the time this films ends you will know the ending before it happens. This film is so anti climatic I fast forward about 2o minutes and that was a blessing. 3 out of 10