Plot
Eduardo “Eddie” Deacon is an ex Army Captain, unable to work for over a year he is desperate to do anything. He is given a position of night security at a shopping mall, and gladly accepts.
On his first night, Jamie, a young girl bangs on the door in the middle of the night.
She has just been attacked by a group of mercenaries out to kill her (where the dozen or so FBI agents sent to protect her have been killed too), as she is going to testify against a big bad guy the next day.
Now, Eddie, and a small crew must keep her safe until the calvary arrives… if it arrives.
Direction
Directed by Alain DesRochers (whom I have not heard of before). It was fine, with some good action – but occasionally the CGI was somewhat questionable.
Cast
Antonio Banderas plays Eddie. He is fine, and holds his own in the lead, but I felt the role would have better suited to someone slightly younger.
Ben Kingsley plays the primary villain Charlie. He too is fine, but I felt like he was phoning this one in, and seemed almost bored at times.
Katherine de la Rocha plays Jamie. She is solid as the strong willed young girl who has to testify against a big bad mobster. She gets my MVP.
Other cast include Eddie’s crew, which includes Vance (played by Liam McIntyre), Mason (played by Chad Lindberg), Johnny (played by Jiro Wang), and Ruby (played by Gabriella Wright).
Breakdown
The premise is pretty easy to follow – with the main character of Eddie introduced as a desperate dad (aren’t they always) who wants to work to support his children. While it’s not at all important to the overall plot of the film, the why hasn’t he worked or been able to get a job ‘could’ have been expanded.
There is a cliche ‘he has an ex wife and child’ which ‘isn’t’ really cliche, as when Jamie arrives – his “dad mode” kicks into overdrive.
Jamie (played by MVP of the film de la Rocha), is at the start of the film being transported to a safe house – so she can stand witness in a criminal trial – and the baddies, led by Kingsley’s Charlie – have been hired to kill her before she can. The reasoning behind who the group is, is revealed rather nonchalantly in one scene, and this could have been expanded on.
There is plenty of action as all of Eddie’s new colleagues decide to assist and keep her safe, and there is the ‘one by one’ they fall trope which is done quite well (if not a little overkill in some of their cases… poor Mason)…
The storm raging outside gives it the eerie feeling that movies do well.
There are some good points to the film, and it is action aplenty, but some of the nitpicks with the casting and performances, this weakens the overall product as a whole.
Overall
Fairly by the numbers, with some okay action – but some average performances and on the nose CGI lets it down.
Banderas is good, but not great. Good for a rainy night in… just like the characters are going through… but I hope Ben Kingsley doesn’t knock on your door…
3/5
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