IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET...


This section is devoted to movies that are neither a recommendation of mine or a movie to avoid altogether. Its a happy medium, if you will, where I try my best to stay somewhat neutral... Hey I'm not perfect.
_______________________________________

2/14/12


SAFE HOUSE



I’m Tobin Frost, a rogue ex CIA agent who’s been on the run for years. I’ve been selling information on the black market and now I’m surrounded; guys coming from my left and right with guns ready to take me out for what I’m in possession of. What to do what to do. Damn, right in front of me is the US Embassy, but if  I go there then I have to face the piled up charges waiting for me…but right now that’s the best option….just got to get across the street before I get shot….GO!

And that’s where the fun begins, only that’s what you hope.

Safe House, starring the beloved Denzel Washington and the “oh that guy, oh I guess I’ll take a look”, Ryan Reynolds, is a move full of action but misses the mark on a coherent story. This movie has just as much plot holes as Hillsborough Ave has too many stop lights (Tampa reference).  While I wanted to say that I enjoyed it I can’t quite put my finger around why I thought it was just OK. No bad but certainly not good, just OK. But there were some good things to look out for.





Denzel has captured Frost much as you would have expected, it’s true he does play it a little safe but keeping the character grounded in reality is a much more believable choice to make. Ryan Reynolds also gave a good performance, I just wish the movie didn’t force us to be sympathetic towards his plight, because I didn’t. I’m sorry but you can’t force an emotion upon people Hollywood, we’ll get there when we get there.



I don’t want to give anything away but essentially it’s a story of an ex CIA agent who is on the run and turns himself in to the US embassy in South Africa as the only option. Now he’s a prisoner and is transported to  a government “Safe House” where he soon will be interrogated to the fullest for his crimes. Matt Weston (Reynolds) is the safe house runner whose main job is to take care of the “house guest”. Now throw in a corrupt CIA agent giving the “guest’s” whereabouts and a group of mercenaries chasing them from place to place and you have this not so safe “SAFE HOUSE” thriller.  



Now keep in mind, there are a few gems that keep you in the theater hoping you’ve spent your money wisely. I say it’s worth a watch but don’t rush to go see it. I’d rather you use the 10 bucks (or more depending where you’re at) and put it in your gas tank because gas prices seem to be on the rise [again].

But if you insist on seeing it, just be prepared for some random action, a game of cat and mouse, only the cat is really annoying and you can’t wait for it to die. Be prepared for yet another car chase in a foreign country (because we don’t get that enough) and another story of corruption (because we don’t get that enough either). Don’t go in with high expectations but don’t worry it’s not the worst thing you’ve ever seen.

My grade for SAFE HOUSE:  C+






2 comments:

  1. It’s a serviceable thriller that should satisfy those late winter cravings from action fans who haven’t seen enough bullets and fists flying onscreen. Nothing special but Reynolds and Washington make it better than it has any right to be. Good review. Check out mine when you can.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree with you; you're sure to get your moneys worth in action! I was just really hoping the movie would be different from other mercenary movies in whch they are more believable. These guys were too stealthy to be so clumsy! lol

    ReplyDelete