The basic idea of Uncommon Valor is so interesting that it's all they can do to make a routine formula movie out of it. But they do.

Action fans may well find Uncommon Valor enjoyably familiar, but for others it will smack of war movie dej a-vu, despite the new angle provided by its concern for American soldiers missing in action in Vietnam.

Hackman's performance, beautiful photography by Stephen Burum and Ric Waite, and some effective action direction from Ted Kotcheff make this watchable, but the jingoist wish-fulfillment inherent in the material is ultimately disturbing.

All of the top talent involved - especially Gene Hackman - is hardly needed to make Uncommon Valor what it is, a very common action picture.