Bullet Train is an action comedy that’s simultaneously hilarious and violent and while the plot does occasionally run off the rails, it compensates with terrific performances from Brad Pitt and his supporting cast. Plus, the action is bonkers with off-the-wall stunts and explosions guaranteed to leave you breathless.
Pitt stars as Ladybug, a former assassin returning to the field. His superiors want him to retrieve a briefcase on board a bullet train en route from Toyko.
While on board, Ladybug encounters a series of shady characters who are also after the case. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry are two British assassins named Tangerine and Lemon and Joey King plays a schoolgirl nicknamed “The Prince” who’s more than meets the eye.
Things go haywire for all parties involved when they discover each of them is looking for the case. This is when the movie’s strengths come in the form of its darkly comedic moments in the middle of the ludicrously inventive action sequences.
Director David Leitch of Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2 uses every bit of action in the book: Martial arts, shootouts and explosions all blended to create kaleidoscopic images that are not only thrilling and funny but also highly creative. It’s almost as if Tarantino directed a comic book movie and it’s pumped up with steroids.
Pitt is fine in the action scenes, but where he really shines are in some of the comical scenes that sometimes are predictable and others come out of nowhere. He gives an energy and winking sense letting us know what kind of ride we’re on.
As for the plot, whenever it slows down for the necessary exposition, it loses a bit of steam. Trying to figure out who is doing what on this train does tend to meander. However, that’s the only quibble I have with a movie that is far more entertaining than expected and helps this summer season go out with a bang.
Bullet Train is not only a movie for the Friday night crowd; it’s also one of the most fun rides I’ve had all year.
Grade: A-
(Rated R for strong and bloody violence, pervasive language, and brief sexuality.)
