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Bob Oedenkirk plays Hutch an ordinary, everyday CPA working at his father in-laws metal fabrication firm. The first few scenes show just how mundane his life really is. The End.
A break-in at his home by two very desperate people upends this dull existence. Not only is his life dull but he's a coward, too.
Well, not for long. On the slimmest of premises, he goes out for revenge. And revenge always leads to bad things.
Basically, it's John Wick light with a bit of Mr. and Mrs. Smith for seasoning. The first half is gritty good with some nice nasty fights that are the opposite of smooth. But the second half gets a bit too cartoony. The quips start to show up. And the unbelievably cool moments that make no sense except they are cool. Bob Odenkirk does a really good job as the lead, but everyone else is just a prop for his shenanigans. Christopher Lloyd plays Odenkirk's father. RZA plays the best friend.
The message I took away from the film is the only way to save your marriage is to kill people.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
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That's a solid message, though.
In the Tudor Period, Fencing Masters were classified in the Vagrancy Laws along with Actors, Gypsys, Vagabonds, Sturdy Rogues, and the owners of performing bears.
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True.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
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That could be a T-shirt.
—tg
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Tasty ultravi. Very tasty.
I agree with Greg for the most part - it’s the middle class version of John Wick. It’s essentially the same plot - a ‘retired’ hitman crosses paths with some punks, one of which happens to be the son of a gangster boss. While there’s no dog (there’s a kitty), after a short hesitation, the antihero returns full force, a one-man wrecking ball, taking out the whole gang and then some.
It’s all about the ultravi. The fight choreo is brutal and humorous in its excess. The quips have to appear to balance the ultravi. When you stab someone in the leg, and then kick the handle to thrust the knife all the way through, you just gotta chuckle at how twisted that is. Or admire its intention like a sociopath.
Great roles for Christopher Lloyd & RZA (who was a special surprise because I forgot he was in this). I particularly liked how the ‘retired’ agents seemed bored yet committed to their mundane lives, but then got their kicks out of killing thugs. Lloyd nails that and I could totally relate.
It’s only like a 90 min film, short by today’s standards, but it totally delivers what it promises in that time. D00M recommended.
See on on Amazon Prime.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
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Shadow boxing the apocalypse
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Bob Oderkerk is a former assassin turned suburban schlub. His dad, Christopher Lloyd is ex-FBI, and in a retirement home. His brother is in hiding. He's shuffling thru family life, but part of him is itching for his old life and circumstances present themselves and he goes full John Wick on a bunch of Russian heavies...things escalate and it coalesces with him prepping for a showdown in a factory, making lots of improvised weapons and staging them. He draws the bad guys into his trap, and the battle plays out with help from the brother and dad. Lots of gratuitous violence that you could predict as you watched him build and set the traps.
In the sequel, the fam has relocated and he's doing "assignments" and keeps coming home late which is putting a stress on the family. He decides to take them on a vacation to a funland water park type place his dad took he and his brother to when they were kids. Turns out the town is a hub for illicit activities and the sheriff tries to run him out of town. Things escalate. Dad and brother reunite...more scenes of prepping the battlefield. Then the big battle in the carnival at night. More gratuitous violence. It's almost like a B-horror movie in a carnival, but without the horror and jump scares. Of course the cartel's biggest bad guy happens to have a sword tuck behind his back...best line:
"Don't bring a machete to a fucking katana duel"
Silly, but not terrible... If you liked Reacher, this is about the same speed and tone.
--tg
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Shadow boxing the apocalypse
