'Mutiny' Review: Another Lean, Mean, Statham Machine
Jason Statham is back to dispose of more despicable human beings on the big screen in Mutiny, a thriller that proves to be yet another reliably entertaining, lean, and mean vehicle for the beloved action star.
‘Mutiny’ centers on a man named Cole Reed (Jason Statham), the head of a wealthy industrialist’s security detail who must go on the run after seemingly taking the fall for his boss’ murder, leading him aboard a cargo ship. Crossing paths with Reed and ultimately tagging up with him is Angie (Annabelle Wallis), a young woman working on the ship, the two of them working together to slowly unravel an international conspiracy as they fight to survive. At the helm of this action thriller is director Jean-Francois Richet who makes for an inspired partner for Statham and his very particular set of skills.
Richet, who previously helmed the action film ‘Plane’ starring Gerard Butler, steps up to the plate considerably here, not only playing to Statham’s strengths as physical performer, but fully utilizing the disorienting and claustrophobic environment of the film’s main setting of a cargo ship to great effect. The set pieces are terrific, beautifully choreographed and thoughtfully staged, making fantastic use of the surrounding environments and leaning heavily into the film’s R rating. The kills are playful, visceral and endlessly entertaining, Statham infusing them with his usual energy, oomph and gruff charm that plays wonderfully with a crowd. Simply put, those who come to see Statham do what he does best will not leave even remotely disappointed.
Speaking of Statham, he continues to be an incredibly impressive physical performer, selling the action beats, choreography and dry humor with effortless ease, continuing to showcase a vitality that seems unstoppable at this point. Pairing him with Wallis proves to be an inspired choice, the two of them playing off one another effectively as they both bring their best to the table. Thankfully, Angie is not a hapless burden or damsel in distress, but instead a highly resourceful and likable heroine that has her fair share of exciting kills as well, Wallis imbuing her with enough pathos and charm to elevate what’s on the page. What easily could’ve made for an awkward, stiff pairing instead registers as a lively and very engaging dynamic between the two of them.
The film also benefits from breezy pacing and a sense of humor that makes it abundantly clear it’s not taking itself too seriously. The film does an admirable job establishing the stakes and putting the pieces on the board briskly as it sails full steam ahead into carnage and mayhem. While many facets of the story may feel familiar to longtime fans of Statham’s particular brand of films, the stakes feel earned and there’s enough development given to Cole’s relationship with his boss to make his vengeful quest worth emotionally investing in. The film’s irreverent sense of humor is also a welcomed addition, never veering into territory that’s too dark or muted for its own good. This is an action thriller that clearly wants its audience to have fun and it delivers that in strong supply with a bloody grin.
However, the film suffers from many of the issues that plague a litany of Statham films. For starters, the characters and story are paper thin, barely giving the audience or cast much to dig into. Cole is barely distinguishable from the myriad of machismo characters Statham has played before, sporting an eerily familiar backstory and overall trajectory of other characters in his filmography with very little depth. While the action star continues to be adept at elevating what material he’s given, he deserves far better and is capable of much more as a performer. Making matters worse are the wholly forgettable antagonists who barely register here, spouting off every conceivably cliche line of action film dialogue without an ounce of panache, personality or vigor. However, the film’s most significant setback is its third act, which is quite rushed to say the least, tying up all its loose ends as quickly as it can while simultaneously attempting to deliver a climax that will bring audiences to their feet, unable to let the film’s highly anticipated final confrontation breathe enough to allow it to the land with the thunderous impact it desperately needs.
‘Mutiny’ may not be Statham’s finest action film in his repertoire, but it’s certainly yet another highly entertaining and crowd-pleasing entry that helps end the summer with more of bang than a whimper. Statham continues to be one of the most reliably entertaining stars on the planet, carving out his own genre of action films essentially, staying in his pocket and leaning into his strengths and charm as an action star to continuously great effect. If this action vehicle continues to prove anything, it’s that the Statham formula still works exceedingly well and if it ain’t broke, why try to fix it?