Another Jason Statham non-stop action caper

Film review: Mechanic: Resurrection

MANILA, Philippines – Hard action easily equates with Hollywood actor Jason Statham. On the big screen, his starrers are always loaded with scenes that often leave audiences in awe. His latest is Mechanic: Resurrection, a sequel to his 2011 film.

The big-budgeted action thriller takes viewers to different locations all throughout the nearly two-hour stretch. The action sequences started in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, even before the opening credits rolled in.

Jason breathes life anew to his character of Arthur Bishop, who is living a quiet, unassumed life in Rio. However, his existence was rattled when a lady approached him and asked him to start killing again. Arthur had no choice but to fight off the lady, escorted by a team of thugs. Inevitably, that incident forced him out of retirement.

The next scene sees Arthur cooling off in Thailand, taking shelter in the beach house of his friend, Mae (Michelle Yeoh). Expectedly, he rescues a girl being held captive in a yacht. It turns out, the girl Gina Thorne (Jessica Alba), was purposely sent by a man named Crain to lure Arthur to fall for her.

The story further takes Arthur to Malaysia to kill again and even to Australia. The scene where he dangles outside a Sydney skyscraper (to gain access to a pool on the penthouse and kill a human trafficker) is also in the film’s poster and print ad. It is reminiscent of Tom Cruise’s daredevil act in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

Another locale is Bulgaria, where Arthur hunts down an arms dealer played by Tommy Lee Jones, who undoubtedly made a marked appearance, no matter how short. As arms dealer Max Adams, Tommy certainly looks like a bad guy in this film. He also provided much of the humor.

Then, the film ends in Cambodia, where Arthur reunites with the new love of his life, Gina, who is working in a children’s shelter. Jessica is “perfect” for an action star’s leading lady. No acting challenge needed, only strong screen projection that she’s pretty and sexy. Typical of most leading ladies in action flicks.

Michelle figured in action scenes in her other films in the past. She was even a Bond girl once in 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies. She was also in the Academy Award-winning film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She could have easily displayed a few martial arts moves, but too bad, the former Miss Malaysia wasn’t given a chance to shine in Mechanic: Resurrection, where she essayed a rather forgettable role.

Mechanic: Resurrection doesn’t bore moviegoers. The action scenes keep viewers on the edge of their seats. There’s gore and violence, staples of a Jason Statham action caper. It is not surprising why the film merited an R-13 rating.

The film was megged by German director Dennis Gansel, who was obviously out to make his mark in his Hollywood debut. He did just that, but the box-office was obviously a different matter.