Reviews

• 

  ★★★★ review by Adam Cook on Letterboxd

  Miami Connection, a brilliantly awful moralistic action film, was saved from obscurity by the Alamo Drafthouse and thank God it was. This is the perfect example of a guilty pleasure - a film so inept but endearing that it is almost impossible not to love. Best experienced with a group of friends and plenty of alcohol, it is a hidden gem of the ‘80s that is only now getting the recognition it deserves.

  With its bizarre mix of pop culture references it’s like the outtakes of a host of ‘80s action films slapped together without any rhyme or reason. The synopsis is almost too good to be true as a rock band skilled in the art of taekwondo take the fight to a gang of motorcycle riding ninja drug dealers. It’s the sort of set up you might see in a modern grindhouse picture but you get the impression the filmmakers were actually trying their hardest to make something worthwhile.

  The plot is utter garbage and filled with redundant scenes that add little to the momentum of the story. It’s hard to know what is the worst part of the film - the painful acting, naff fight choreography or the laughable dialogue. Each of these elements on their own would make for a pretty bad experience but put them together and Miami Connection becomes an absurd and hugely entertaining ride.

  It’s hard to do the film justice without watching it yourself. As with other recent cult favourites you really have to appreciate crap filmmaking to get any enjoyment out of it but for those with a fondness for bad movies, particularly those from the decade, then you can’t go wrong with Miami Connection.

• 

  ★★★★½ review by Jeff on Letterboxd

  It's actually kind of freaky how much this movie seems to have been made just for me. It's about a rock band (I'm already in) called Dragon Sound (I think I'm hyperventilating) who fight ninjas (is it possible someone is monitoring my dreams?).

  I will say that somewhere around the halfway point I thought Miami Connection was a victim of being over-hyped, that it was good but just couldn't live up to what had been promised. But the action gets ramped up in last act (i.e. becomes graphically violent), and it made me realize just how much I had come to love the sad losers of Dragon Sound.

• 

  ★★★★ review by Hollie Horror on Letterboxd

  Miami Connection is about a rock band called Dragon Sound and they are notably made up of the most pathetic and unattractive people you could imagine. Each member has their own, unique setback. One has horrible, disgusting teeth, another has a unibrow, one has a giant, bushy mustache coupled with a wicked mullet and the token black guy has some severe daddy issues.

  I know you are probably wondering about our main man, Y.K. Kim, what could possibly be wrong with this taekwondo master? Well, once I got it in my head, I couldn't get it out, he looks suspiciously like E.T. has come back to Earth with a black wig to fight some drug dealing ninjas.

  There were a few issues I had with the story (LOL, I'm kidding). But, seriously, were the boys supposed to be in high school? Cause there was for real a high school classroom scene but that was just one of many where I was hilariously confused.

  Besides the kickass fight scenes the one attribute to the film which needs to be brought to light is the amazing songwriting. I will leave you with these wise lyrics:

  Friends through eternity,
  
  Loyalty, honesty,
  
  We'll stay together,
  
  Through thick or thin.
  
  Friends forever,
  
  We'll be together,
  
  We're on top,
  
  Cause we play to win.

  You've got a friend in me.
  
  When times get tough, you'll see.
  
  We've been together for so long,
  
  When I'm weak you make me strong,
  
  I know I can depend on you,
  
  To show the way and see me through.

  We'll make our dreams come true.
  
  There's nothing we can't do.
  
  We've been together for so long,
  
  When I'm weak you make me strong,
  
  I know I can depend on you,
  
  To show the way and see me through.

  I know I can depend on you,
  
  To show the way and see me through!

• 

  ★★★★★ review by SilentDawn on Letterboxd

  "They don't make buns like that down at the bakery!"

  The best worst movies aren't made ironically or with a winking eye, they're made with passion and sincerity. All those "movies" made by The Asylum can go to hell, and as much as they may try, they aren't even an ant compared to the cinematic mammoth that is known as Miami Connection. True pride and emotion was put into this film, and as inept as it is, I don't think there is anything as purely enjoyable as this oddball tale of friendship and loyalty.

  In my eyes at least, I don't think any other "so bad it's good" film can compare to Miami Connection, but really, I can't help but put it in the "so good it's good" category, and I don't think that's a stretch. Every scene is so fun, insane, stupid, annoying, unnecessary, and hilariously badass that I can't help but feel extremely invested in this band of weirdos. There's not even a single lull in this story, and man, what a story it is. Describing it doesn't even hold a candle to the true experience of watching a group of college student Taekwondo rock band members fight motorcycle ninjas who are involved in a cocaine dispute around Central Florida.

  A truly spectacular cinematic joyride.

• 

  ★★★★ review by Adam Cook on Letterboxd

  Original review

  Even better viewing with a group. Miami Connection is frankly terrible in every department but with its heart in the right place you can’t help but love it. Daft, cheesy, homoerotic brilliance.

• See all reviews