On the surface, Wrath of Man could be seen as a typical dull, generic, and needlessly convoluted action thriller. You know what? You’d be right.
There is a way to take a premise for making an admittedly straightforward action movie and infuse it with style and energy to make it stand out. The first John Wick is a good example. Sadly, that’s virtually absent in this uninspired schlock-fest.
Wrath of Man stars Jason Statham as Patrick Hill, a new security guard escorting armored cars in Los Angeles. When criminals hijack their load, Hill takes them down, leading many of his coworkers and even his superiors to believe that he’s potentially dangerous.
The rest of the cast is like an assembly of clichéd characters in a standard action film like this: Eddie Marsan plays Hill’s superior, and Holt McCallany is his partner on the job who oversees his training. Plus, we even get Josh Hartnett as another colleague easily impressed by Hill’s skills.
After this, the plot moves into a nonlinear structure that’s unnecessary and confusing. It involves a massive heist by some ex-military. Statham’s character stumbles upon their plans in a contrived fashion, setting the stage for a violent, predictable conclusion.
Wrath of Man is heavy on violence, especially during its climax, but it’s ridiculously mind-numbing, and I think it knows that it outstays its welcome. The shootouts seem like an endurance test.
Statham reteams with Guy Ritchie after Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, but the results are just messy, boring, and forgettable.
Grade: C-
(Rated R for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, and some sexual references.)
