One Man Army, Zero Armadillos: The Invasion U.S.A. Situation
Welcome to this episode of The Most Excellent 80s Movies Show. Hosts Krissy Lenz and Nathan Blackwell are joined by special guests Francis Zagarigo and Jenna Jacobsen of the Very Fine Friends podcast to take on Invasion U.S.A. (1985) — the Chuck Norris one-man-army spectacular that Nathan has been lobbying to cover for years.
The big question the crew keeps circling: is this a movie, or is it a spectacle? Because there’s a difference, and Invasion U.S.A. lands firmly in one of those camps. The conversation digs into what happens when a studio decides the solution to a too-long cut is to remove everything that isn’t an explosion — including, heartbreakingly, any resolution involving a pet armadillo. What’s left is something the hosts describe as witnessing a chaotic family at a carnival, and somehow that becomes the episode’s most affectionate note.
Francis and Jenna bring fresh eyes and genuine Chuck Norris confusion to the table, which gives the rewatch crowd something to play off of. Whether you know the Norris filmography cold or only recognize him from over someone else’s shoulder, the dynamic here keeps things lively — and surprisingly warm. This one stays at premise level throughout, so you can tune in knowing nothing.
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If you had to defend the United States single-handedly, what 1985 action-movie weapon would you choose and why?
