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January isn’t exactly a time when audiences flock to theaters to see gripping action movies. Usually, theaters are filled with bad comedies and cheesy horror flicks—along with the latest award contenders, which gradually make their way across the country. But if you’re looking for some brainless action during this less-than-thrilling time of year, you’ll find just that in director Asger Leth’s feature debut, Man on a Ledge.
Sam Worthington stars as Nick Cassidy, an ex-cop turned con who uses his father’s funeral as the perfect opportunity to escape a 25-year prison sentence. After going on the run, he checks into New York City’s posh Roosevelt Hotel, where he orders lobster and champagne for breakfast before opening the window and stepping out onto the ledge.
As the crowds begin to gather on the streets below him, Nick asks for Detective Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks), a police psychologist who’s been a department outcast ever since her last case ended with a man jumping from a bridge. But Nick knows that another disgraced cop is the only one he can trust to help him prove his innocence.
Meanwhile, as Nick appeals to Lydia for help and the crowd of police and media and onlookers continues to grow, a nearby heist goes unnoticed.
January thrillers are typically poorly-written eye-rollers—but Man on a Ledge is a pleasantly entertaining surprise. Of course, that’s not to say that it’s a flawless adventure. Actually, it has plot holes big enough to walk through. There’s nothing about it that’s even the slightest bit plausible. And after about 15 minutes, you’ll know how it’s all going to end. Still, it’s easy to suspend disbelief for a while—to sit back and enjoy watching Nick’s meticulous plan as it plays itself out.
Nick has apparently spent a year planning his escape from prison, as well as the detailed adventure that follows. He’s researched his case and come up with a few answers. He’s devoted so much time researching and planning, in fact, that he obviously hasn’t had time to get a decent haircut. And as he puts his plans in motion, the story is loaded with little surprises that pop up along the way—plenty of unexpected details and apparent missteps that turn out to be just another part of the plan.
The story is tense, and the plot is interesting. And the plot holes and questionable performances? Well, they’re to be expected during this notoriously dreary time of year. But as long as you’re willing to overlook a few inconsistencies, Man on a Ledge is still an entertaining and attention-grabbing escape.
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