"Mechanic: Resurrection" Review
"Mechanic: Resurrection" is the sequel to 2011's action/thriller "The Mechanic" (which was a remake of a 1972 film of the same name, starring Charles Bronson). Buried in January, "ME1" only grossed $29 million in the U.S. This sequel opens at the end of August, the dreaded period of the movie year when studios dump films not good enough for the legit Summer schedule or Awards contention later in the year. But every Summer needs a bad action movie to wrap things up, and "ME2" certainly fits that bill.
Jason Statham has made a career out of killing people - on screen. And as Arthur Bishop in "The Mechanic" and again here in "Mechanic: Resurrection", he's so good at it that he makes assassinations look like accidents. The hitman gets lured out of retirement ("Jason Bourne"-esque) and is tasked with killing three of the most dangerous arms dealers in the world or his kidnapped girlfriend will be "eliminated". Gina is played by Jessica Alba. In press interviews, Alba said she took the role because it isn't the typical "damsel in distress" part. But that's EXACTLY what it is - aside from a few times she gets to kick guys in the groin.
"ME2" begins with a laugh-out-loud opening sequence, in which Statham either stabs, shoots, or does things I can't describe in print, to at a least a dozen bad guys. The body count by the film's end approaches 100 - and he takes them all down single-handedly. Enjoying the variety of killing methods the assassin uses does provide a level of entertainment. However, as a whole - from the visuals to the sound effects and the performances - "Mechanic: Resurrection" is an exercise in cheese.
Speaking of "Jason Bourne", Tommy Lee Jones, who a month ago was seen tracking down that title character, adds to the level of camp with a 3rd act appearance as Bishop's final target - Max Adams. Tommy Lee Jones looks nothing like a Max Adams. What he does look like is a bit bizarre, even for TLJ: short haircut, goatee, Ozzy Osbourne sunglasses and earrings, a black T-shirt, leather jacket and ripped jeans. His best line comes after he and Bishop secretly escape a life-threatening situation, with those watching the surveillance video presuming he's a goner: "I never realized dying could be so exhilarating." Not as exhilarating as cashing the paycheck from being in this mess.
And, of course, the final scene sets-up a "Mechanic 3". Let's hope someone takes his tools away before that can happen.
