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If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to watch this movie in the company of witty friends so we could mute the TV and make up our own storyline and dialog, sort of an extemporaneous "What's Up Tiger Lily?" For those who aren't comfortable with their improv ability, or just want some mindless action entertainment, I highly recommend liberal use of the fast-forward button. Sure, you could watch the whole thing in real time, but who would really want to? Maybe someone who loves spy movies, but this is specifically NOT a James-Bond-style movie. In fact, the suave, tuxedo-wearing superspy is killed off in the first couple minutes, to be replaced by an indentured, untrained daredevil sort-of activist. I suppose this is intended to draw in the 13 to 25 year-old male audience who can identify much better with a burly extreme-sport Vin Diesel who's "keepin' it real" than an older, debonair but establishment Pierce Brosnan. Maybe it's the fifteen years since I've been in that demographic that kept me from appreciating the story, but I doubt it. It felt like all the creative energy was sucked from writing the dialog, characters, motivations and story, and directed solely to coming up with really great stunts. The moments between action sequences aren't a complete waste, but they wouldn't make much of a movie by themselves. Maybe an ardent Vin Diesel fan would enjoy sitting through all the talking, but most others would probably be just as happy to zip forward to the next shooting, chasing, avalanching, exploding stunt in pursuit of the secret of REALLY GOOD egg salad.
If you liked the movies below, you'll probably like this one (and vice versa):
Eight-Facet Info Rating, rated on a scale of 0 (None) to 4 (Lots!)): |