MECHANIC: RESURRECTION (2016)

Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Dennis Gansel
Cast: Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones, Michelle Yeoh
Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins
Rating: NC16 (Violence and Some Coarse Language)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 8 September 2016

Synopsis: Arthur Bishop thought he had put his murderous past behind him when his most formidable foe kidnaps the love of his life. Now he is forced to travel the globe to complete three impossible assassinations, and do what he does best, make them look like accidents.

Movie Review:

Wait, this movie is actually a sequel? There was a movie named The Mechanic? You see, that is the problem of Jason Statham movies. They are thoroughly enjoyable – women love the manly characters he plays, men wish to be the manly characters he plays – but they are also of the same mould. Can anyone articulate the difference between 2002’s The Transporter (and the two sequels that followed in 2005 and 2008, for that matter), 2006’s Crank (and 2009’s Crank: High Voltage, for that matter), 2008’s The Bank Job And 2013’s Hummingbird? They all have Statham portraying antiheroes (with a handsomely sculpted bod, nonetheless), fighting off baddies by performing his own stunts. The plot? Err, they don’t really matter.

The 49 year old conveniently takes on yet another similar role in Mechanic: Resurrection (okay, if you must know: it is a sequel to a 2011 movie, which was a remake of a 1972 film of the same name), and impresses viewers by, well, fighting off baddies in intense and over the top action scenes. Yup, viewers will also be treated to scenes of the English actor showing off his handsomely sculpted bod.

Dennis Gansel helms this action thriller, with a screenplay written by Philip Shelby and Tony Mosher. You wonder why two writers are involved when the movie simply involves Arthur Bishop (Statham), who chooses to live his life quietly after faking his death in the fist movie, is forced to return to the world of crime by killing three targets and staging them as accidents. The 99 minute movie brings viewers on a no brainer globe trotting adventure to Thailand, Penang, Sydney, Rio de Janeiroand Bulgaria.

If you have been agreeable to Statham’s previous movies, you will be able to sit through this one without too many complaints. You will get your share of close combat sequences which are, to be fair, engagingly edited. As described earlier, women will love this manliness and men will wish that they are this manly. These are shamelessly enjoyable guilty pleasures which will draw fans of action movies into the theatres.

The other reason why men may love this movie is the presence of Jessica Alba. Remember the good ol’ days when she boogied her way into men’s hearts in Honey (2003), hypnotise men as exotic dancer Nancy Callahan in Sin City (2005), wore sexy bikinis in Into the Blue (2005) and remained sensationally attractive as Sue Storm in Fantastic Four (2005). The 35 year old actress still has the goods, and sure knows how to flaunt them. For that, you even forgive the laughably awkward sex scene between her and Statham.

Another notable addition to the sequel is Michelle Yeoh, who is ridiculously wasted in a role that only requires her to look wise and spout intelligent lines (who else better to portray this than an Asian character?). Did you really need someone to say “those are best at killing are also the best at healing”? What seems to be lacking is only a crystal ball for her to gaze into. Tommy Lee Jones, looking as cranky as ever in his earrings, tiny sunglasses and colourful shirts, rounds up the cast as a baddie who, well, gives Statham a reason to pave the way for another possible sequel.   

Movie Rating:

(You only have yourself to blame if you were expecting an intelligent action movie with this Jason Statham vehicle – just sit back and enjoy the guilty pleasure)    

Review by John Li