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Jason Statham is one cool action hero. Whether he’s single-handedly gunning down a band of thugs or pulling off a bank heist, he’s always calm and collected, staring down each new challenge with his ever-present tough-guy glare. But no one ever accused him of starring in smart, subtle films. And his latest, The Mechanic, is no exception.
In this remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson thriller, Statham plays Arthur Bishop, a professional hit man who’s been highly trained to do the job quickly and effectively—and to walk away without leaving a trace of evidence. He’s sharp and refined, and he can do any job that’s assigned to him—even if it means killing his mentor, Harry McKenna (Donald Sutherland).
When Harry’s wayward son, Steve (Ben Foster), asks Arthur to show him the ropes, he reluctantly agrees. But Steve will need to set aside his anger—and his need for revenge—before he can become a successful killer.
Once again, tough guy Statham is as cool as ever—and, in the process of being totally, unflinchingly badass, he manages to make up for most of The Mechanic’s many flaws.
In the beginning, the film takes itself much too seriously—and, for a while, even Statham’s trademark glare seems to be a bit much. It’s all too moody and melodramatic, and it tries too hard to be hip and stylish. At the same time, though, some of the scenes are seriously awkward, and the writing is pretty ridiculous—yet, despite the silliness of it all, you’ll get the feeling that you’re not supposed to laugh.
Eventually, though, the film finally stops trying to be a serious thriller, and it starts embracing the sheer over-the-top insanity of its clichéd action. Then it becomes the guilty pleasure that it was destined to be, complete with corny dialogue to make audiences laugh and plenty of explosive violence to keep them on the edge of their seats.
Director Simon West definitely pulls no punches with the film’s action. Arthur’s cases tend to end with people dying in simple, straightforward ways, but once Steve shows up, everything gets a little crazy. Explosions, chases, shootouts, stabbings—you name it, The Mechanic has it. People are blown up, thrown through windows, and hit by cars. So if you can’t handle gallons and gallons of fake blood, you might want to opt for something a little less gruesome.
Of course, all of the action and violence is meant to mask the fact that the story is predictable and weak. It’s filled with blatant action movie clichés—and, really, there isn’t much of a point to any of it. But, well, you don’t go to a Jason Statham movie for the brilliant plot any more than you go to see a Kevin James movie for the compelling drama.
So, sure, The Mechanic isn’t a great movie. There isn’t much of a story, and the violence is definitely excessive. But, really, at this time of the year, a little brainless entertainment is all you can hope for—and, once again, Statham delivers.
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