Director: David Ayer
Starring: Jason Statham, Michael Pena, David Harbour
Running Time: 116 minutes
Synopsis: In Chicago, ex-Royal Marine Commando Levon Cade (Jason Statham) is a site foreman working for the family construction business owned by Joe Garcia (Michael Pena). When Joe's college student daughter Jenny (Arianna Rivas) is kidnapped, Levon reluctantly agrees to find her. He discovers a powerful underworld Russian gang, with Dimi (Maximilian Osinski) as the unhinged scion dabbling in the human sex trade. Jenny fights for her freedom against her captors as Levon works his way through numerous thugs to mount a rescue.
What Works Well: The co-writing team of director David Ayer and Sylvester Stallone deliver as-promised-on-the-label action. Jason Statham injects just enough engagement in the familiar role of the quiet ex-special forces soldier nudged back into action, and the rest flows to familiar beats of unrealistic but well-staged action, sardonic humour, and oily baddies hissing threats and meeting their demise to a soundtrack of quips. Jenny as the victim is provided with spunk, and Dimi makes for an effectively despicable but well-dressed villain.
What Does Not Work As Well: From opening to closing credits, this is nothing if not predictable, complete with Levon's oh-so-familiar broken marriage and attempts to be a good dad to his young daughter, and the ex-army buddy (David Harbour) with a stash of weaponry that could equip a robust militia. The more serious dialogue exchanges are often painfully inept.
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