Commando
Brainless, explosion-happy action ('80s style).
Parents say
Based on 11 reviews
Kids say
Based on 27 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this action marathon has countless rounds of ammunition fired, some characters bloodily riddled with bullets, necks broken, one arm cut off, numerous stabbings/impalements, falls from lethal heights, ginormous fiery explosions, car crashes/rocket launches (sometimes in combination), etc. Real do-not-try-this-at-home moments include the main character leaping from an ascending airline to the ground and using buzz-saw blades as deadly Frisbees. Swearing is at R-level, with the hero dropping the F-bomb just like the other characters. Oh, and he lies when he promises one character he'll only kill him last. There's one quick, topless peek of woman in bed, part of a couple interrupted in motel sex.
Community Reviews
Violent but entertaining
Report this review
Fun and enjoyable movie recommend!
Report this review
What's the Story?
Muscleguy John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a retired super-soldier of some sort, leading a placid existence with his preteen daughter Jenny (Alyssa Milano) in the woods (no word about what happened to the mother). Old cohorts-turned-enemies invade, abducting Jenny to force Matrix to carry out an assassination/coup in the mythical Latin American nation of "Valverde." Instead, Matrix escapes their clutches and takes the fight to the bad guys, one-man-army fashion, with the sometimes-clumsy assistance of a scared stewardess (Rae Dawn Chong) he encounters en route to the villains' lair.
Is It Any Good?
There were dopier 1980s action movies than this -- check out Sylvester Stallone in Cobra. Still, it's hard to argue very strongly with COMMANDO's listing by the cult-movie website Chud.com as one of the Ten Worst. While seldom boring (actually, when one fiery blast follows another by rote in the end, it does get pretty tiresome), the down-to-basics action narrative is ludicrous, and only Arnold's devoted (and juvenile) fans might find his "character'" compelling, as Matrix tears apart cars and malls with his bare hands. The champion bodybuilder-actor is indeed the one special effect that holds up best; when Arnold lifts a bad guy, the wire attached to the victim is visible, and "guards" around exploding buildings are clearly immobile cutouts/dummies.
Maybe it was all meant for laughs. At least John Matrix promises no more adventuring in the end; no sequels so far, though there has been talk of a Commando remake.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Schwarzenegger's famous defense of his action movies of this era as being mere "cartoon violence."
Does that really make all the deaths and mayhem in Commando worthwhile entertainment? Would a more realistic approach have worked?
Who is your favorite action hero? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 25, 1985
- On DVD or streaming: May 25, 1999
- Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dan Hedaya, Rae Dawn Chong
- Director: Mark Lester
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Run time: 94 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- Last updated: March 2, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
XXX
Predictable action movie has explosions, violence, sexism.
-
Rambo
Nonstop graphic violence in action movie sequel.
-
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Sly shoots up Vietnam in violent '80s sequel.
-
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
Popular 1980s cartoon fun, but glorifies battle, toys.
-
Doom
Bloody and gory. Not for kids.
-
Street Fighter
Campy video game-derived action-fest.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate