Jason Statham as Cole Reed in “Mutiny” (Photo Credot: Dan Smith/Lionsgate).
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(“Mutiny” trailer courtesy of Lionsgate Movies)
I already know what you are thinking.
Jason Statham is the same character in every movie.
Furthermore, all of Statham’s movies have a similar premise.
While those assumptions might apply to “Mutiny,” two things can be true at the same time.
Yes, “Mutiny” and Statham’s role in the movie are derivative of his other work.
But that does not stop “Mutiny” from being one of his best, in a heart-pumping movie that combines the expected action with a newsworthy storyline that is heartbreaking.
In “Mutiny,” Cole Reed (Statham) is a dedicated bodyguard for a wealthy and successful shipping company magnate who has plans to sell his large company because running the company is not in his son Kameron’s (Chaneil Kular) future plans.
Although the ink is not dry on the business acquisition, the celebrations have begun.
While any party can become violent, especially when alcohol is served, festivities can become super tense when many of the people in the building are in the top one percent financially.
Regardless, Cole is the perfect person to watch someone’s back if there are any “opps” in the building.
From the beginning of the party, Cole locks eyes suspiciously with a certain partygoer.
Luckily, Cole’s security team has facial recognition technology that tells them everything they need to know about those in attendance.
Additionally, the security team has combed the guest list with a fine-tooth comb before the night begins so that they can keep their eyes on anyone who stands out to them.
Thankfully, the party goes off without a hitch, unless receiving a fancy Rolex watch from an employer is a hitch.
Although Cole is technically just a bodyguard for his boss, he has become more like a family member to him, risking his life to save his boss as if it is nothing to sacrifice life and limb for others.
His boss even gets a date transcribed on Cole’s new Rolex to commemorate the day that his trusted bodyguard saved his life.
Unfortunately, when someone is as wealthy as Cole’s boss, they can never let their guard down fully.
On the ride home, Cole is stopped by police officers who appear to be securing a work site.
As Cole tries to reverse the car, some men with bad intentions step out of the vehicle to inflict as much pain on those in the car as possible.
Being who he is, though, Cole is able to somewhat minimize the damage of the ambush.
Unfortunately, no one bats a 1.000 in baseball or in life.
And at some point in life, everyone takes a major loss.
The difference is who accepts their losses and just moves on, and who tries reverse those losses as soon as possible.
In “Mutiny,” Cole is the latter.
Through his own ingenuity, Cole sneaks on one of his old boss’ shipping boats that is leaving Bangkok, to see if he can find any information about who ambushed him and his boss and why.
Per usual for a Statham movie, and that is not always a diss, mayhem and melees are the result anytime a Statham character wants to get down to the bottom of some shenanigans.
Luckily, in “Mutiny,” Cole finds an unlikely comrade on the vessel, where he becomes persona non grata when the captains find out who he really is and what his true mission on the vessel is.
Although outnumbered and outmuscled and out-gunned, Cole and his new female companion (Annabelle Wallis) are both some bada$$e$, and it might get bad for those doing so much bad to so many good and innocent men, women and children on that particular ship.
While “Mutiny” is not the only Statham film with heart, it has the most heart and hits close to home because of the subject matter and how anyone who watches the news can relate to the timely issue.
Cole is a tough ex-police officer turned bodyguard, but anyone with a heart would start a mutiny on that ship if they had uncovered what is ultimately discovered.
Although Statham is the obvious star in Mutiny, it is impossible to sleep on Wallis’ performance because she is totally amazing in her role.
Slight of build and innocent looking, she is just as bad$$ as Cole.
Together, the two strangers are forced to team up in order to make it off the ship alive.
And while both have brawn that will help them fight their “opps,” Wallis’ character uses her brains in the midst of total chaos, which might increase their chances of survival.
Haters will have the usual criticisms for Statham and his movies.
But “Mutiny” is Statham’s best film, next to “The Beekeeper.”
Unfortunately, “Mutiny” does not have the legs that “The Beekeeper” had.
That is why “The Beekeeper” is getting a sequel, while “Mutiny” probably will not.
That is a shame because “Mutiny” will leave moviegoers applauding and wanting more than the one hour and 45 minutes that filmmakers provided.
However, I know what you are probably still saying after reading this glowing review.
Statham is not a thespian.
His movies are not thought-provoking.
The action star’s films are for those uncultured moviegoers who just want to see fights, gunshots and explosions.
Those stereotypes might be true some of the time.
But that still does not stop those type of movies from being a blast.
And “Mutiny” contains many blasts and is an ultimate blast of a time.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
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