Mutiny is exactly what you would expect with Jason Statham as the lead. The old phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” describes his acting career (and that’s not a bad thing). The man found his niche and stayed there, making countless action films in various settings. Here, we see Statham take his fast-paced action and violence to the high seas as he seeks retribution for the death of his boss.
After his boss Tibu (Ramon Tikaram) dies before his eyes, Cole Reed (Jason Statham) finds himself in the middle of a hostile act. Armed men, along with police, descend on him while chauffeuring his billionaire boss, and he winds up being framed for his murder. After ensuring Jason (Chaneil Kular), the heir apparent, was safe, Reed sneaks onto a cargo ship and pursues the group responsible for Tibu’s death.
It’s a typical Jason Statham action film, which means two things: There will be violence, and you won’t be disappointed. Some of the brutality was so audacious that it was shocking. With only a handful of fights that were extreme in nature, the rest of the action was superb. Once on the ship, he’s assisted by Angie Ellis (Annabelle Wallis), who was more of a butt-kicker than a fake love interest. Together, the two find a shocking discovery in the bowels of the ship that raises the stakes even higher.
When I saw this was directed by Jean-François Richet, I immediately grew hesitant. Not because he’s French and probably clueless about Dictator Mbappé (which in the football world is of the utmost importance), but because of all the films he’s made, I only partially liked one (Plane with Gerard Butler and Mike Colter). But I’m happy to say that this film hits all the right notes for an action-filled masterpiece.
Naturally, the fight scenes are always the draw with a Jason Statham film. But also, the flow of the story is one that is sure to win over audiences. Forced love scenes and subplots are a bore and really drain the quality of an action film. Cole saw Angie almost as a colleague who needed help getting home to her daughter, and that’s how he treated her. There were ample times when a very plastic exchange in dialogue could’ve occurred, but thankfully, it never happened. The film has a straightforward approach with an easily digestible storyline that makes for one exciting night at the movies.
Mutiny gets a 9 out of 10. Mutiny is the ideal way to spend the night at a theater. If you have a weak stomach, there are several parts where you’ll want to cover your eyes. With fish hooks, harpoons, hammers, and more at his disposal, you never know how Reed will decide to kill!
Mutiny arrives in theaters on Friday, August 21.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Lionsgate
Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: August 21