It seems like only yesterday writer-director Guy Ritchie and badass action star Jason Statham made their movie entrance with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and their last outing together was 2005’s Revolver. Don’t fret, as these two British bad boys are back but not quite better than ever in Wrath of Man – a heist/revenge thriller that weirdly feels like it’s directed by someone who’s not Ritchie. The style he’s known for is barely there and the cheeky humor is non-existent. Why so serious, bro? Howbeit, when it comes to action, he’s damn good at it, and there’s no one out there who delivers it better than Statham.
The story goes something like this. H (Statham) strolls in pretending he ain’t a BAMF and gets hired as a new security guard for an armored cash truck company. He may fool his co-workers, but there’s no fooling us! He’s shown the ropes by Bullet (Netflix’s Mindhunters Holt McCallany) while Dave (Josh Hartnett), one of the crew members, is instantly not a fan of H joining the team. I’m sure he’ll come around though. H is shrouded in mystery and not a big talker, yet clearly he can only keep up this facade for so long until his true motive comes to light. His hunger for vengeance is all too consuming and this is where the excitement lies. It’s that moment Statham is let off his leash to devour those who have royally pissed him off.
Going in to the details of the plot will ruin the fun. That said, the use of an unconventional timeline is a double-edged sword for Ritchie and company. It’s enthralling to watch an array of dirty players get introduced and get their hands bloody in this rumpled, ravaged game. Although, when Statham isn’t on-screen – Wrath of Man is wrestling in maintaining its momentum for the full two hours. The cast of characters surrounding Statham’s H can’t keep up, and not much time passes before we’re ready for him to jump back in and do his thing.
The truth is we aren’t above getting giddy when Ritchie wants us to feel Wrath of Man‘s wrath. Kinetic and violent, its charged climax, with stellar shootouts and a pile of bodies, is what we want and need. Ritchie isn’t soundly himself with this, yet Statham is…well…exactly who we know him to be. While their efforts don’t resemble their previous collaborations – they still manage to get the job done but with very little swagger.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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