Journal & Topics Media Group

‘Wrath Of Man’ Precisely Predictable


Jason Statham in “Wrath of Man.”

“Wrath of Man” (118 min., Rated R for strong violence throughout, thematic elements, and pervasive language). 6 out of 10

British filmmaker Guy Ritchie’s breakout movie was 1998’s “Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” — followed by “Snatch” (2000) — and then a series of action-oriented films all the way to the present. Guess who was featured in those first two films? Yep, Jason Statham — who has become an iconic action star in his own right. “Wrath of Man represents the fourth time these two have worked together — since 2005’s “Revolver”…a good match for a power director and a power actor, neither noted for finesse or subtleties — or holding back. It’s been through this association that Statham transitioned into doing nothing other than action roles made more famous by his recent stints in the “Fast & Furious” films — and the spin-off “Hobbs & Shaw.”

For Ritchie, he more or less became a person of notoriety when he married pop legend Madonna in 2000 — and then a director of notoriety when he directed the two highly successful “Sherlock Holmes” movies with Robert Downey, Jr. (2009 & 2011). At only 52 (Statham is 53), these two film personalities have hooked up for another urban action crime thriller, this time set in Los Angeles. With some aspirations to rival still the most prolific heist sequence in film history, “Heat” (1995), “Wrath of Man” falls woefully short with a big lead-up and anticipation to the big ending shoot ‘em up sequence. However, leading up to that crescendo gun battle is the story of Patrick “H” Hill (Statham), a man locked into seeking revenge over his son’s murder.

So, “Wrath of Man” is just that — a revenge thriller (a remake of a 2004 French film) no different than a hundred other revenge thrillers over the last 40 years. It’s been a staple for a horde of action stars who seek vengeance over a loved ones death — making sure the perpetrator(s) pay for it — big time! Not knowing exactly who he is, but what he’s capable of, being Jason Statham, kickboxing, martial arts legend, he applies for a job at an armored car security firm where suspicious thefts, and deaths, have occurred recently. We know H has his own secret agenda for applying as a security guard because unbeknownst to the goons who run the security outfit, H is a force to be reckoned with…and he’s there to get to the bottom of who killed his son.

It is later in the story, told in flashback before lunging into the future, that we see the incident with his son being in the wrong place at the wrong time — and the outfit responsible for his death. Unsure of who H really is or how he make a living, though it’s obvious he knows a thing or two on how to kill people, it’s just a matter of time before he identifies the people behind these robberies — and the death of his son. It’s a slow-burn build-up as H at first works his way into their confidence, employing a few of his own operatives (AKA “killers”) whom he’s worked with over the years, to exact his form of justice — payback! There’s not one shred of originality to the character Statham plays — stoic, small on words, never smiles, angry stare — the kind of guy you stay clear of at a bar. And there’s not one shred of originality to the story or its cardboard caricatures — or the elaborately choreographed shootout at the end — a sub-story that exists on its own.

“Wrath of Man” works like a finely tuned watch, checking off all the formula-based segments with precision. It identifies H as some mysterious person, then as a man bent on destruction, then just who all the bad guys are conspiring to pull of one big last score ($160 million!), all ending with the bad guys dead and H standing over the last one — the one who pulled the trigger on his kid. To him, justice has been served. It’s all slickly paced and filmed with great action sequences, so-so acting and a story so repetitively overworked and half-baked, you scream for some sort of twist. Sorry, there is none. But it’s what you’d expect from Ritchie — and especially from Statham. Curiously, Statham doesn’t engage in any of his iconic hand-to-hand fight sequences. All of his killings are with guns blazing. Who wants that kind of violence when you have fists of fury Statham on board?

“Wrath of Man” opened at select theaters on May 7.

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