- Director: David Ayer
- Screenplay: Sylvester Stallone, David Ayer
- Cast: Jason Statham, Michael Peña, David Harbour
- Cinematography: Shawn White
- Editing: Fred Raskin
- Score: Jared Michael Fry
- Genre: Action thriller
- Runtime: 116 minutes
In Jason Statham and director David Ayer’s second collaboration in two years (after last year’s ‘The Beekeeper‘), Statham plays Levon Cade, an ex-Royal Marines commando now employed in the construction business who has to utilise the tricks of his previous trade when the teenage daughter of his boss is kidnapped on a night out. The subject matter is right up Ayer’s street, he’s ex-military too; serving as a submarine sonar technician in the United States Navy.
In the course of his recovery mission, Levon gets caught up with Russian gangsters and dodgy drug dealers. It would be better if he’d made quick work of his objective and just shot everyone he met on sight – then we’d get to wrap things up early because jeez, that runtime sure does drag on.
While based on the novel ‘Levon’s Trade’ by Chuck Dixon (best known for being a comic book writer), it’s been adapted for the screen by Sylvester Stallone, Statham’s ‘Expendables’ co-star. Stallone, aware of Statham’s complete lack of acting chops, cuts out the bulk of what Levon tick (he’s got a young daughter, a dead wife, and hints of PTSD) and lets Statham do what he does well – his po-faced action man routine. He’s the titular blue-collar ‘working man’ – all work and no play makes Levon a dull boy; thanks to a personality bypass, he’s already there.
Was I thrilled? No. Did it hold my attention even on a mindless level? Nyet. I say dasvidaniya to thee.
My rating: 4 / 10
SilverScreen 