Written by: Kevin L. Schewe
Genre: Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure
Page Count: 95 pages
“Bad Love Tigers” presents an ambitious time-travel adventure blending WWII aerial combat, alien encounters, and Cold War espionage. The screenplay follows the “Bad Love Gang” – young Flying Tiger pilots who use a secret time-travel device called the White Hole Project to protect an alien spacecraft across multiple timelines. While the script demonstrates genuine enthusiasm and contains exciting action sequences, it suffers from severe structural problems, an overcrowded narrative, and dialogue that feels anachronistic.
The screenplay’s greatest strength lies in its unique high-concept premise. The combination of teenagers piloting P-40 Warhawks while protecting alien technology across different time periods is genuinely original. The aerial combat sequences are written with technical knowledge and cinematic energy, particularly the dogfights where specific aircraft types and tactical maneuvers create authentic WWII atmosphere. The incorporation of real historical elements – the Flying Tigers, Manhattan Project, Roosevelt, Truman, and General Chennault – grounds the fantastical premise in reality.
However, the structural problems are immediate and severe. The non-linear opening jumps from 1942 China to 1974 Oak Ridge to 1945 Georgia, creating disorientation rather than intrigue. We’re thrown into action with characters we don’t know, for stakes we don’t understand. The middle act feels like a travelogue as the gang drives from Georgia to Colorado through disconnected episodes – hotel stops, water balloon fights, and Russian spy encounters that don’t build dramatic momentum. The screenplay features multiple climactic battles rather than building toward one powerful climax, diluting the emotional impact.
The plot attempts too much simultaneously: the White Hole Project’s protection, multiple Russian and Chinese spy cells, two alien spacecraft crashes, meetings with two presidents, a Gerald Ford subplot, and three separate romantic storylines for Bucky alone. Nothing receives adequate depth. Characters are introduced and dismissed abruptly – Nisha Singh appears as a love interest then is revealed as a spy and arrested within a single scene.Character development suffers throughout. B.B., supposedly sixteen, leads complex military operations yet acts impulsively. His heroic sacrifice feels unearned without sufficient emotional build-up. Bucky’s three romantic interests make him seem fickle rather than complex. The female characters – Cleopatra, Crisco, Peggy Sue, and Li-Ming – lack distinct personalities beyond making sarcastic comments. Bowmar is defined solely by being “brilliant” without demonstrating how his intelligence actually solves problems.
The dialogue breaks period authenticity repeatedly. Characters in 1942 use modern slang and action-movie quips that didn’t exist in the era. Heavy exposition replaces natural conversation, with characters explaining information to each other that they already know purely for audience benefit. The teenage characters don’t sound like actual teenagers from any era.The screenplay never establishes clear rules for time travel or explains why teenagers run top-secret military operations without adult supervision. President Roosevelt and Truman accept extraordinary claims without verification. The mission objectives keep shifting without clear focus.
With significant revision – streamlined plot, developed characters, period-accurate dialogue, and proper three-act structure – this could become entertaining adventure fare. The passion and imagination are evident; the craft needs to match the ambition. As written, it reads as an enthusiastic first draft requiring several more iterations before production consideration.
Writer Biography
Kevin L. Schewe, MD, FACRO is a board-certified cancer specialist who has been in the private practice of radiation oncology for over 34 years. Schewe, a multi award-winning bestselling author is a WWII history buff, has a background in physics and always loved stories about time travel. Bad Love Strikes is the first book in the Bad Love series. The second book is Bad Love Tigers, the third is Bad Love Beyond and fourth is Bad Love Medicine.