Wrath of Man certainly lives up to its title. The film stars Jason Statham as a mysterious security guard. Hired to protect armored trucks, H soon proves to be much more capable than he initially let on. He is on a single minded path of destruction and will go to any lengths to accomplish his goal. But what is his plan and who is he?
The movie marks the fourth time Statham has teamed up with director Guy Ritchie and the first time since 2005’s Revolver. Ritchie has always managed to bring the best out of Statham and does so again here. Statham is overflowing with natural charisma which Ritchie is able to channel into more than just another badass character.
Which is not to say that H is not a nearly unstoppable force. Wrath of Man sees Statham dispatching enemies in a variety of ways with little resistance. It is part of the English actor’s charm and is just as fun to see here. (The ending takes it a little too far, however.) From the first time, H shows off his full skillset, it is the Jason Statham movie fans have come to love.
What makes H more interesting than similar characters is his mission. It is a basic idea, but Statham brings an obsessive quality to it. This has the dual purpose of explaining why he is essentially unbeatable and the odd decisions he sometimes make. It is a typical revenge story that Statham fleshes out through his cold blooded attitude.
Wrath of Man is an action movie first and foremost. There are many bloody shootouts and the entire third act is basically an attempted heist. This is the most tension filled and fun part of the film. It takes a while for the story to find its way. The pacing is odd as the first two acts use a winding narrative to fill in the backstory. It is interesting, but it can also get very confusing. As the story becomes more clear, Wrath of Man becomes better. It is like a flip switches on about halfway through the movie.
Wrath of Man is a throwback to a time when there were “guy movies and “chick flicks”. To call this a male dominated movie would be an understatement. There are maybe three women in the entire film. One gets shot in the head, one becomes an afterthought, and one runs away crying never to be seen again. Does it take away from the fun of the movie? That is up to the individual. But it is certainly noticeable.
Wrath of Man releases in theaters May 7
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