In the world of excessive CGI, animatronics, heavy graphic and technology usage, there do exist a few who still believe in hardcore raw action and stunts, Jason Statham by far is a believer of real life action and never shies away when there is an opportunity to exhibit. The sequel to the 2011 movie gets going with what was left off from the first part, only that action gets bigger and rough. Let’s take a Arthur Bishop had faked his own death in order to lead a peaceful and quiet retirement. Now his most challenging enemy kidnaps the love of his life, and he is forced to travel the world to complete three impossible assassinations of the most dangerous men in the world, and do what he does best, make them look like accidents. Firstly, the romance that's central to the plot, between Bishop and Gina, comes across as lukewarm and unworthy. The chemistry between them is non-existent and the conviction in performance is also missing. So what follows thereafter is pretty much limp and very much annoying giving you a feel of more artificial than what comes by virtue.
The plot goes with the hero being sucked right back into the thick of things by one of his old enemies, an International arms dealer Riah Crain (Sam Hazeldine). But Bishop snubs that offer and goes about falling in love with an abused Gina (Jessica Alba). Crain gets his leverage by kidnapping Gina and Bishop is forced to play his hand by consenting to perform the three near impossible assassinations of well-guarded targets within the span of a day and a half. His task is to make the assassinations look like accidents while Gina's life hangs on a knife's edge. Of course Crain is not looking to leave any evidence behind after the deed is done.
You would love how Arthur is pretty much one step ahead of absolutely everybody all the time and is indestructible; he’s like the action guru who pretty much goes a step ahead of the run book and knows what is expected. There is also Jessica Alba who provides the eye candy glam, even if she doesn’t get to do much else but this is Statham’s show and that’s fine. Tommy Lee Jones only has a small role so if you’re expecting him to be a major character then you may be disappointed and the main villain Crain (Sam Hazeldine) isn’t all that exciting either, instead tries to breathe and be menacing. Also, why have Michelle Yeoh in your film if she doesn’t get to kick any ass? That was the biggest letdown and felt like a missed opportunity considering how much the actress caliber could have upped the film. As everyone would have expected the maverick actress and Arthur would team up and take on the world in the finale but she was nowhere to be seen.
For the most part the visuals were well done with some imaginative action sequences and minimal noticeable CGI, getting in conventional Jason style. At the end of the day is this a bad film? Or a watchable film, maybe the latter for the action is good, but the screenplay and the direction up to its intention makes it an average flim. But if you love the brand that is Jason Statham, I doubt you're going to lose the opportunity to watch it in the theatres.
Verdict : A good action entertainer let down by mediocre screenplay.
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