Jason Statham returns with more of his signature butt-kicking action in Mutiny, only this time the mayhem heads to the high seas aboard a cargo ship. Fans should still get a kick out of their favorite action hero, even if the plot doesn't always make sense.
Statham plays Cole Reed, a former British Marine seeking revenge after an assassination plot kills his boss, a father figure to him, and nearly takes him out as well.
Mutiny is slow to set sail, with the action not really kicking in until nearly 30 minutes into the movie, but the setup gives his revenge mission some emotional weight.
Directed by Jean-François Richet (Plane), Mutiny delivers familiar Statham-branded action, but the cargo ship gives the formula a fresh setting. Tight corridors and confined spaces make for entertaining mano-a-mano fights, with plenty of the ship's surroundings doubling as weapons.
Annabelle Wallis is another standout as Angie Ellis, who refreshingly avoids the usual female action-movie tropes. She's neither the damsel in distress nor the obligatory love interest. She's capable on her own, and her action scenes feel practical rather than turning her into an instant martial arts expert. Although audiences may have to suspend some disbelief that the glamorous Wallis spends weeks at sea working as a Third Mate on a cargo ship.
Statham also gets a rare moment of vulnerability when Cole finds himself outnumbered by the crew and actually shows fear and uncertainty. It's a welcome change from the actor's usual fearless, indestructible action persona.
Ultimately, the cargo ship setting is what helps Mutiny stand apart from the crowded field of Statham action movies. Fans shouldn't be disappointed by the close-quarters mayhem, even if the revenge angle becomes harder to swallow when the mastermind isn't even aboard the ship.
Mutiny is now in theaters.
