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Safe (2011)

Director: Boaz Yakin

Time Out rating

Average user rating

5 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

The Stath goes west. Clearly sick of beating up miscellaneous gun-toting Eurotrash, Jason Statham dons his best American accent (which isn’t saying much) and heads across the pond to shoot up NYC in this silly excuse for an action thriller.

Statham plays cop-turned-cage-fighter Luke Wright, whose refusal to throw a bout results in his becoming a target for vowel-mangling Russkie thugs. But instead of killing The Stath (as if they could!) they decide to keep him alive, watching over him 24/7 and bumping off anyone to whom he gets close. Which could mean curtains for little Mei (Catherine Chan), an eight-year-old maths whiz on the run from her Triad minders, with a head full of numbers which may hold the key to a $30 million payout. Taking the tyke under his muscular wing, Stath must keep her safe (see what they did there?) from the Russians, Chinese and his former colleagues of New York City’s finest, all of whom want to get their hands on that cash.

As this all suggests, ‘Safe’ is a film constructed entirely of clichés: the tight-lipped hero with a dark past, the chirpy, mouthy kid sidekick, the legions of interchangeable hoods with funny accents and bad attitudes. But if the plot feels old, the dialogue is positively paleolithic: it’s as if writer-director Boaz Yakin tossed all his favourite Schwarzenegger, Seagal and Van Damme scripts into a shredder and then pasted them back together at random. The occasional efficient action sequence means that ‘Safe’ never gets truly dull, but even Statham aficionados might feel short- changed by this one.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2176 May 3-9 2012

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User reviews of this film

Marsellus said...

Posted on May 23 2012 12:43 Probably the best Statham action-film ever made. Although it is fairly run-of-the-mill in terms of plot and characters as the TO review states, the whole film is handled with an above-par attitude. Statham puts in way more effort with the acting in this one (he even sheds a tear!) and the direction and handling of some of the fight scenes is fairly inventive too. I don't remember seeing a single OTT slo-mo shot in the whole film. In one scene there's a single take with the camera inside the car and we watch as Statham reverses over a guy then drives forward over him again so you see the victim bouncing around outside the windows. Inspired!

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Alan said...

Posted on May 15 2012 17:15 I actually enjoyed this a lot more than most Jason Stratham films - much more engaging and interesting; more convincing fights without the obligatory shirt-ripping off. A good evening out.

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ARCHGATE said...

Posted on May 11 2012 21:21 Got to agree with the ScrumpMaster on this one. Must confess to only lasting a measly 35 minutes.

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JayneM said...

Posted on May 06 2012 10:47 What can I say, its a Jason Statham film - you know what you are gonna get! It was action packed & loads of fighting!!! most enjoyable, I liked it

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on May 05 2012 23:51 Decent, 80's style action thriller that boasts an impressive one take ending in a Strath-tear! Look, you know the score here, see it if it looks like you will enjoy it, don't see it if it looks like you won't. And if you DO go unsure, pay big £ then hate it, you are an idiot! 6+/10

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