Jason Statham stars as H in Guy Ritchie’s “Wrath of Man” (Photo Credit: Christopher Raphael/2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Inc.).
How far would you go to avenge a wrong done to you?
Many people will say that they would do whatever it takes to get revenge on an enemy.
But how many have the ability and wherewithal to actually make their adversaries pay for the wrongs that they have committed?
In “Wrath of Man,” H (Jason Statham, “The Meg”) has the calming menace and ruthlessness to make all of his enemies cower, which makes “Wrath of Man” the type of brutal action film that perfectly fits the summer movie formula.
“Wrath of Man” depicts the plight of armored truck drivers.
Like bankers and bank tellers, armored truck drivers put their lives on the line everyday in order to safeguard the money of others.
While many idiotic criminals take penitentiary chances robbing corner stores and liquor stores, seasoned criminals often put their lives and livelihood in danger only if there are large sums of money for the taking.
While everyday street thugs might die or go to jail for a few dollars, those that specialize in robbing armored trucks are the crème de la crème of criminals because their felonious capers take skill, precision, intelligence and preparedness to pull off successfully.
Even with planning and details, life and riches are not promised just because one robs an armored truck with millions of dollars inside.
Most importantly, working for an armored truck company does not guarantee anything either because even with weapons, training and safety protocols, there is nothing that one can do when an evil criminal mastermind is determined to get rich quick.
“Wrath of Man” begins as two employees from Fortico, a private security firm responsible for picking up and transporting millions of dollars, get gunned down during a robbery in which they follow all safety procedures and protocols.
The unfortunate victims of the armored truck robbery follow procedures to a fault because when an opportunity presents itself for a possible escape, they are more concerned with procedures and calling in the robbery than with actual escape.
The murder of two Fortico employees hits the company hard.
Employees get constantly reminded to follow procedures during a robbery and not to play the hero because they are not even protecting their own money.
To an extent, Fortico employees are paid to transfer money, not to risk their lives trying to save the money.
In fact, Fortico often moves $15 million per day in their numerous armored trucks.
However, the motto of following all safety protocols changes in “Wrath of Man” when H joins the operation.
Fortico prospects have to pass their training exercises with a score of 70 percent.
The training consists of driving exercises and shooting drills.
Luckily, H scores the required 70 percent on the dot to gain employment at Fortico.
While he gains employment, his supervisor Bullet (Holt McCallany, “Sully”) tells him he has no chance of becoming a Formula-1 racecar driver.
Furthermore, Bullet tells H that his shooting skills must have become rusty since he left his last security job.
Despite getting the new job, H does not try to endear himself to his new co-workers and bosses.
The other employees at Fortico think that something does not add up with H.
He seems over qualified for the job at Fortico.
Furthermore, he has a dark spirit and a bad attitude, not being one to mingle with the rest of his colleagues.
However, H becomes a hero inside the walls of Fortico when he successfully fights back against would-be robbers.
While his shooting skills appeared average in his training exercises, he shoots like a skilled marksman when robbers hold Bullet as a hostage and those same thieves begin shooting at him and Boy Sweat Dave (Josh Hartnett, “Sin City”).
In “Wrath of Man,” H’s heroics solidify his respect within the Fortico power structure.
But it also deepens the suspicions of some of his co-workers who believe that this dark spirit of a man cannot be trusted with their entire operation.
First and foremost “Wrath of Man” is dope because of Statham.
The British actor has become a legend much in the same vein as Samuel L. Jackson and Vin Diesel.
All three seem to play the same character, with the same voice and same demeanor in many of their movies.
But for some reason it works every time.
Stereotypically, many Americans do not see Brits as menacing, possibly because of their accent that makes all of them sound proper and superiorly educated.
However, Statham is able to destroy that stereotype while still speaking the King’s English.
He just has a do not mess with me attitude and body language.
The Guy Ritchie-directed “Wrath of Man” has to draw comparisons with other armored truck heist films like “Takers” and “The Italian Job.”
But while “Takers” was suave and sophisticated and “The Italian Job” was comical, “Wrath of Man” is just vicious and ferocious.
But while “Wrath of Man” boasts bloodthirsty action, the film does not contain the best acting.
Rapper Post Malone did not quite measure up even against just serviceable acting jobs.
Thankfully, Post Malone’s performance in “Wrath of Man” is limited to a bit part.
And although Statham is not a true thespian, his gravitas as a bona fide bada$$ makes “Wrath of Man” a fire movie as far as summer blockbusters are concerned.
And when a man like Statham, or H, is wrathful and vengeful, all hell might break loose at any moment.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
