Review of Escape Plan (2013) by Carlos B — 23 Feb 2014
The first on-screen collaboration between Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger (not counting cameos in The Expendables series) is, sadly, anti-climactic. Perhaps it's the fact that this film is, clearly, Stallone's film and Arnold is a co-star only.
Maybe it's the fact that the eventual pairing of the two biggest action stars of the 80s and 90s has far less butt-kicking and explosions than one would expect, and much more dialogue and emoting, something which neither actor is really cut out for.
Stallone spends much of the film looking angry and upset, as though the entire proceedings were an insult to his person. Schwarzenegger, on the other hand, seems to be having a ball, though perhaps a bit more than the script really calls for.
It's a jarring contrast that leaves you unsure of the story's direction., whether action comedy or action drama. By the time the action starts, it's nearly too late to redeem the film. Many of the film's other stars are wasted in cliché roles, like Jim Caviezel, who spends much of his screen time playing such a one-note villain, that you have to wonder where he left his moustache.
One can only hope that this isn't the last time these two legends are paired on-screen, just that the next effort is one more worthy of the two.
This review of Escape Plan (2013) was written by Carlos B on 23 Feb 2014.
Escape Plan has generally received positive reviews.
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