One of the world’s favourite action stars, Jason Statham, is returning to the big screen for the second time this year to star in Jean-François Richet’s latest film, Mutiny. For moviegoers still relishing the success of the year’s higher-profile releases like Spider-Man, Statham’s latest film offers an easy return to a reliable genre.
Ex-Marine turned private security guard Cole Reed (Jason Statham) finds himself framed for the murder of his billionaire shipping tycoon boss. Behind-the-scenes betrayals force Reed onto one of the cargo ships owned by his boss’s company, where a bloodthirsty quest for vengeance ensues.
The first act lures the audience in with sweeping shots of luxury Thailand estates, only for an exciting contrast to occur when the story shifts gears aboard the dimly lit, confined cargo ship.
The “thing” about action movies is that audiences know what they are after: fast cars, hand-to-hand combat and guns. And, of course, whenever Statham’s name latches onto a project, it would be naïve to say the narrative isn’t almost fully formed.
Statham has established himself as a steadfast figure in the action genre. His roles span major franchises including the Fast & Furious series, Spy (2015) and The Meg (2018), where his recognisable characteristics fit perfectly with the adrenaline-fuelled blockbusters.
Annabelle Wallis, of Peaky Blinders fame, joins the cast as an unassuming third mate whose character arc is dependent on aiding a man she doesn’t even know. Roland Møller adopts the convincing role of a corrupt ship captain who will do anything to ensure his deal doesn’t turn sour — including hunting down the stowaway hidden on deck.
At times, some of the writing steps into cheese territory, with dialogue obviously intended to pack a punch not quite landing. Against the intensity of the third act, the leading characters and long-awaited action sequences allow the film to find its footing.
The dialogue gets snappier. The fighting becomes sharper as the otherwise ordinary pacing really finally picks up the ante. Unorthodox weapons, including hooks, harpoons and a readily available axe, cause the audience to sit up a little straighter. It’s a rare instance in the movie where the shock factor works — and it’s definitely for the better.
Rather than playing it safe by bouncing between characters who ultimately don’t need the extra exploration, Mutiny could have exercised more of the chaotic action sequences we’d been expecting the whole time.
There’s enough packed into the one-hour-and-35-minute runtime that audiences won’t be too caught up in how narratively similar the film might feel to something like Die Hard (1988). Mutiny is by no means the highlight of Statham’s career, but it once again allows him to hold onto his status as a modern-day action star.
The genre may still be in need of its next big blockbuster, but the universal language of an action film is almost impossible to mess up. And with Father’s Day around the corner, Mutiny might just provide the perfect excuse to take Dad to the movies.
Ainsley Mura