by John Tillyard, Contributing Writer
Following major disillusionment after the war in Afghanistan, a group of seasoned CIA operators, mentored by Larry (Liam Neeson) and led by Tucker (Zachary Levi), ventures into Tehran’s core to seek redemption through a daring rescue and a major heist mission.
There’s the capability for a truly gripping and compelling story, with former soldiers using the skills, knowledge, and experience of war to achieve their own ends. While I feel it works well in Triple Frontier and the Amazon series Jack Ryan, for whatever reason I don’t think it works here. The main issue is the narrative structure, which jumps between various time periods, locations, and subplots, yet at no point gives us any reason to be concerned. This isn’t helped by the fact that Neeson and Levi both give very stoic performances, so there is far less sense of investment in their characters. They feel much more like people just doing a job than like characters we should root for and care about their well-being.
Possibly the idea was to give the whole thing a more realistic feel. The writing is attempting to make the characters regular guys working the assignment rather than classic action-movie heroes. For example, when Tucker finds a kid early on, rather than playing the hero and saving him, he leaves him because the kid is not their objective. This is also apparent in the presentation of the movie’s action, with no fast-paced cutting, little to no musical score, and no over-the-top sound effects. It’s a more realistic take on the James Bond formula. However, in this case it’s also a far less interesting take on that formula. While movies like Bond have a charismatic lead and intense action to draw you into the story, the lack of them here makes everything feel rather dull and humdrum.
Another problem is the directing and editing; the setup and establishing of place, characters, and plot points are a bit convoluted at times. There are numerous abrupt changes of scenery, making it not always clear where they are now and what is happening. However, even once I understood what was happening, I still struggled to understand why any of it matters. It felt like writer and director Guy Moshe wrote and shot this full of scenes with little to no purpose or justification. The movie is full of simple scenes that a typical and enjoyable screenplay would utilize to inject character development, emotion, or even humor. However, despite the capability for emotional weight and humor, it is decidedly void of any attempt at including them.
The opening provides very little setup for Larry and Tucker are as people; you don’t connect with them emotionally or take any interest in what they are trying to accomplish. There is too much focus on why things are happening, and not enough on why any of it matters. I can pinpoint so many moments here where, if I were watching something I was into, I’d be gasping, laughing, wondering what a character would do next. Instead, I found myself confused, wondering whether something was meant to be funny, disliking everyone on screen and everything they said, and checking the runtime to see how much was left. I’ve seen a few comments saying the movie should have been a bit shorter, but personally I thought the length was fine for the story being told; the tedious presentation was the problem.
The word “potential” really sums up this whole experience, as there are the seeds of an interesting story here. There are a few clever twists and interesting ideas that might have worked in a better script. But it all feels completely wasted. This is not to say everything The Fix is bad; there are some moments of real tension and compelling action, though they are few and far between. Plus, Levi gives a decent dramatic performance, which might have showcased his range as an actor to other casting directors if it were in a higher-quality project.
As for other performances, Jake Choi is the standout of the supporting cast, as he attempts to add at least some charisma to a few scenes. Meanwhile, Elnaaz Norouzi plays one of the most annoying and idiotic characters I’ve seen in an action movie in a long time. Personally, I’ve never been a fan of Neeson, and this performance does nothing to change that; his line delivery sounds so monotone throughout. Not to mention, many viewers will feel cheated by Neeson’s face taking up half the poster, since he’s only in it for about 15 minutes.
The best thing to say about The Fix is that it’s a nice bedtime movie to fall asleep to. The dull script, clunky pacing, strange editing, and uninspired performances all add up to one of the most uninteresting movies I’ve seen in a long time. A few impressive wide-angle shots and a grittier, more realistic tone are nowhere near enough to grab your interest or give you any appreciation for the story and characters. It’s also a very disappointing experience, as it’s exactly the type of story I normally have a blast with, but they forgot to give me a reason to care.
Rating: Hated It
The Fix is currently playing in theaters.
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