The game features Bodrov?€™s "Brat" character, former soldier Danila, arriving in the United States to rescue his older brother, who?€™s been kidnapped by the Ukrainian mafia.
Directed by Alexei Balabanov, "Brat" quickly became a nationwide hit almost immediately upon its release in 1997, its star Bodrov rocketing to the status of politically incorrect icon. The sequel, "Brat 2," was released in 1999 with identical results.
Oddly enough, although "Back to the U.S.A." basically reiterates the second film?€™s plot, it features a considerably less violent Danila. The game?€™s instructions even warn that "Danila ought to be careful about using his gun, else the player lose points" ?€” a major departure from the Danila of the screen, who shoots first and asks questions (or not) later.
The Russobit-M company, which manufactures the game, will release 50,000 "Brat 2" games, in time for the New Year?€™s gift-giving rush.
Bodrov, who attended the game?€™s official release party at a local nightclub last week, appeared to be a little irritated when a journalist addressed him as "Danila."
"Maybe someone should name a ship the Danila?" he joked, a sarcastic allusion to the Soviet proclivity for naming ships after Party leaders and war heroes.
And maybe that?€™s not such a bad idea.
The game may not really be up to Danila?€™s standards ?€” my computer-loving brother quickly tired of it, complaining that "it?€™s not very well done" ?€” but I don?€™t care.
Because the real message of the film is a good one ?€” that, if you?€™re totally alone on the planet, you?€™ve got to try with everything you?€™ve got to save your older brother from the clutches of the bad guys.
My father, who passed away last week, always told my brother and me that we should help and support each other ?€¦ our last name, after all, is "brotherhood."
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