REVIEW: Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998) (TV)

Starring: David Hasselhoff, Lisa Rinna, Sandra Hess, Neil Roberts, Tracy Waterhouse, Ron Canada, and Dr. X.

Directing: Rod Hardy

At A Glance: After years of self-imposed exile, retired agent Nick Fury (David Hasselhoff) returns to the field to help S.H.I.E.L.D. fight global terrorism. HYDRA has once again reared its ugly head, but the children of Baron Von Strucker (Sandra Hess and Scott Heindl) are now at the helm instead of their father.

What the Goose? Before Samuel L. Jackson, there was the Hoff. This made for TV movie was surprising. Surprising, in that it was released in 1998 and I can’t figure out why I missed it on the Tube. I know I was married that year, with at least one child, the second born in October… I think we were in our house at that point. Ah well, perhaps that was one of the years we went without Cable TV.

Anyway, it’s not a terrible movie. It contained some entertaining dialogue in that, since it was made for TV, and it was 1998, they tried to actually avoid profanity. Such as when the Hoff states: “Let’s go kick some HYDRA butt!” Yeah, seriously. These days, you know that they wouldn’t have used “butt.” It felt very ’80s, despite being released in the late ’90s.

What did I get out of it? Well, mainly, it reinforced how huge the Hoff is. Physically, I mean. That guy is tall. Really tall. I don’t think I really noticed that before. I mean, I was watching KITT more in Knight Rider, and the scenery in Babewatch. Also, Sandra Hess makes for an enjoyable-to-watch Andrea Von Strucker / ‘Viper.’ She definitely had nice… wardrobe choices.

Did it hold true to the comics? I dunno. There weren’t any obviously super-powered heroes or villains, but there was a hellicarrier. There wasn’t a Black Widow, but Lisa Rinna was clad in tight leather quite often.

Anyway, if you enjoy a nice, campy romp through the comics and have some time to kill, give Nick Fury a try.