Safe

Safe

(Boaz Yakin, 2012)

Rating: 2/5

Reviewed by Dave Lancaster

Summary: Jason Statham plays it safe with another poorly script actioner that nevertheless whizzes by at a solid pace.   

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Jason Statham is playing it safe with 'Safe' - another gritty action thriller with lots of whoosing sounds before cuts that populates its cast with cliched international villains.

It doesn't start well for Statham as we're introduced to his former cage-fighter character who storms in some guys with the far from brutal insult "you piece of garbage!". The script doesn't improve much as the underdeveloped characters speak in overly simplistic metaphors and on-the-nose exposition.

Statham soon finds his dependable screen presence but the writing and direction (both from Boaz Yakin) doesn't give him anything to work with despite a nice plot point about a superbrainy little girl who stores valuable info in her head being protected by Statham's brute force.

Despite a good pace and some neat camera tricks, the tone is failure that feels stuck in the 80s. There isn't enough wry humour to take it down the John McClane path nor enough cold efficiency to try for a Jason Bourne. It comes off like one of those forgettable Seagal films made when he was the way down from the top. Statham has more talent than that. Let's hope he stops playing it safe and make more of a push next time.

Check out the premiere special, TV spot, trailer and stills from 'Safe' HERE at Cinemas Online.
 

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