Only one will survive.|Jan. 07, 2022|United States|93 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Crime;Thriller
Description: “The Commando” (2022) is a slow-paced and dialogue-heavy home-invasion thriller that struggles to hold its own as a crime drama. Packed with generic dialogue and unnecessary secondary characters, the film feels stretched to meet its runtime. Even fans of Mickey Rourke may find it draining, as the actor disappears after the first 20 minutes and only reappears in the anti-climactic ending, leaving everyone involved seemingly relieved it’s over.
Filmed in just 11 days in New Mexico during the COVID pandemic, the movie relies heavily on limited locations, with a significant portion of scenes taking place inside cars as characters exchange meaningless lines. Rourke portrays Johnny, a recently released convict who reunites with his former gang to retrieve $3 million in stolen money he hid in a house before his arrest. Michael Jai White plays James, a DEA agent battling PTSD after accidentally killing three hostages during a drug bust. James, along with his wife and two daughters, happens to live in the house where Johnny concealed his cash. While numerous confrontations unfold, the two leads don’t face off until the final moments, making the wait tedious and unrewarding.
Director Asif Akbar, known for films like “Smoke Filled Lungs” and “Ace and the Christmas Miracle,” clearly worked under tight constraints. This is evident in the opening shootout, where extras visibly flinch while waiting for their squibs to explode. However, this doesn’t justify the lack of visual style or even basic framing throughout the film. Many scenes feel rushed, as if the first take was deemed sufficient, while dialogue-heavy sequences suffer from mismatched performances, unintentionally giving them the vibe of a comedy sketch.
Cast director: Philip Tan
Cast actor: Michael Jai White, Mickey Rourke, Jeff Fahey, Aris Mejias, Gianni Capaldi, Donald Cerrone, John Enos III, James Chalke, Cord Newman
Original name: The Commando