by Samuel Nichols, Contributing Writer
May I tell you something? I eat a Chipotle burrito at least once a week, and I’m not sick of it. I still enjoy the flavor, the smell, and it fills my empty stomach after a long day. Call it what you want, but the burrito is dependable. Jason Statham movies are a burrito: reliable, predictable, and good.
Ex-cop Cole Reed (Statham) has a new life, for which he’s grateful. As head of security for shipping magnate Tibu (Ramon Tikaram), Cole bodyguards for both Tibu and his son Kameron (Chaneil Kular). When a shady group makes an attempt on Tibu’s life, Cole is indicated as the perpetrator. Seeing one of Tibu’s employees among the attackers, Cole stows away on one of the company’s large shipping vessel captained by Marko (Roland Møller). Cole just wants to go unnoticed as he lays low from the heat, yet something is afoot on the boat. Cole finds an ally in substitute seaman and ex-navy sailor Angie (Annabelle Wallis [man I miss Peaky Blinders]), who herself has realized that not everything is kosher onboard. They spring into action and lead a two-person mutiny against Marko.
Story-wise, Mutiny does not defy the captain order’s. Man gets betrayed, blamed for it, and seeks revenge. There is nothing new under the sun. So, if you expected the Chinatown of action movies, you will be disappointed and/or bored. Might I suggest you go watch last year’s Warfare or 2024’s Strange Darling if you want a more thoughtful run-and-gun movie.
However, going back to my original analogy: if you came to a Jason Statham action movie, you should know it was not going to blow you away with its writing. But you likely expected some goofy or eccentric setup like a beekeeper being on par with an A1 Navy Seal who makes honey and hive puns all the time. Unfortunately, this movie does not get specific jokes, but we do get the odd comment or joke from Statham. So, the movie isn’t a zero on the comedy.
Where this movie does take a step up is in the brutality of the action. The PG-13 rating would make you think it would be bloodless, but in spirit it is not. We have spear hooks flying, fire axes swing at heads, and close up gun fights. I had my eyebrows raised a few times at how vicious the fighting is throughout. Now, this movie limits the gore because they had to appeal to the PC police over at the MPAA. But overall, it does not take away from how deadly the gunshots and axe swings feel.
That action mixed with Statham’s natural deadpan charm carries the movie. For a movie about a special forces dude just doing the right thing on a boat with some bad dudes, that is enough. And the movie does not linger or overstay its welcome. You are going to be in and out in a tight 90 minutes. Spend the $5.00 on discount Tuesday to go see this one with your buddy and go laugh about it as you get some seafood after. You may not remember everything that happens in Mutiny, but you’ll remember the good times you had seeing Jason Statham impale a dude on the high seas.
Rating: Liked It
Mutiny is currently playing in theaters
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