Mechanic: Resurrection (2016)

[Ezen Baklattan]

Review.

Discuss.

Debate.

Celebrate.

[Plain Old Tele]

This is basically a low-rent Bond. I don't remember much about the first MECHANIC, but I think Statham was just an assassin in the US, right? Anyway, understandably, this one starts off with him living under an assumed identity overseas. Someone tries to recruit him back into the game, he refuses (emphatically), and the rest of the movie is him alternately being forced to take on the job while quietly deciding to rescue his new girl Alba and taking out the dudes responsible for forcing him into this mess.

 

Great little pre-credit sequence, then a pretty lousy first act, honestly. Alba's character is just terribly written -- she's ex-military turned international aid worker, basically. But the movie can't seem to make up its mind about whether she's an ass-kicker or just some woeful damsel-in-distress. As it is, Alba's simply not believable as an ex-soldier. She can't do much with the role, but it's not really her fault. It's a really weak role for a woman in 2016, and I was disappointed by that. Had the movie emphasized her ex-military abilities a bit more, it might've been a solid role for someone like Gina Carano.

 

Fortunately, once the main thrust of the plot kicks off with her being kidnapped to force Statham into action, things pick up nicely. I particularly liked the first two assassinations where the movie actually spent a few minutes showing how an international assassin sets up his plan and acquires all the relevant tools. It's basically a version of competence porn, but it works. And the second assassination in particular is a lot of fun -- probably the best bit of the movie.

 

Tommy Lee Jones shows up, slumming it wildly, but he's still entertaining, regardless. And Statham (I think for the first time ever in a movie) shows off his ex-Olympian diving form.

 

I'm split in the B-/C+ range. I'll probably end up settling more on the C+, but fuck it.

[jb007]

Entertaining movie. Quite a bit different than the first one in tone. This almost feels like MI lite. The stunts are excellent and the swimming pool one is top notch. Jessica Alba's blue bikini seems like a nod to Into the Blue. It is strange to see the former Kung fu queen Michelle Yeoh in a subdued character role (She had one in Mummy 3 also)

 

All in all a fun time at the movies.

 

Rating: B

[Frozen]

It was a fun movie to watch for stunts and effects, but the plot was weak. Am I supposed to believe this man meets a woman, knows her for a few days and then gives her his dead farher's watch he never took off? And then goes on a killing spree and risks his life for her? 

[Plain Old Tele]

On September 4, 2016 at 3:22 PM, Frozen said:

It was a fun movie to watch for stunts and effects, but the plot was weak. Am I supposed to believe this man meets a woman, knows her for a few days and then gives her his dead farher's watch he never took off? And then goes on a killing spree and risks his life for her? 

 

No, just buy that he's pissed they won't take "no" for an answer.  

[baumer]

Liked it quite a bit.  Love that Alba was here basically to look hot in a bikini.  I could have used some more hand to hand combat but what we do get is pretty good.  There's some really good action sequences and for the first time in about a decade, TLJ looks like he was having fun.]

 

 

7/10

[The Futurist]

Absolutely retarded in every way, but a good way.

 

Statham Stathamed hard in this and we love him for it.

[xanamanax]

Caught this on HBO and was underwhelmed. It's Statham so the action is pretty good. The story is terrible though. The part where he escapes to Michelle Yeoh's place and meets Alba felt like an hour by itself. God, that dragged. And I didn't buy the connection to Alba that would make him do what he didn't want to do. It was really weak. And I had to laugh at something about the second assassination. He was given only 36 hours to do it (for reasons!) and he would've needed way more time than that to do all the planning they showed him doing for it considering everything happened during the daytime. But like I said, the action is pretty good and that's the main reason I watch Statham movies. But he's gotten to the point where I expect a little bit more. 

 

C-