Review of Homefront (2013) by Midlands M — 05 Aug 2014

Based on Chuck Logan's novel and adapted into a screenplay by Sylvester Stallone (!) this is the perfect vehicle for bald bruiser Jason Statham as he plays an undercover DEA agent in Mississippi. After a drugs bust goes awry, Statham and his daughter have moved to a small town where he (and she) cross paths with the redneck locals who clearly don't take too kindly to outsiders.

Kate Bosworth's Cassie asks local drug goblin 'Gator' (a dangerous looking James Franco) to rough up the newcomer and Statham has to use all (i.e. violent) means to defend his family bringing him to the attention of the neighbourhood Sheriff (Shawshank's Clancy Brown).

Once Gator finds out who Statham really is, a chain of events is put in place to capture him as revenge for the first investigation. The plot is as dodgy as Statham's wobbly accent and the stereotypical hillbillies amongst the jetties, fields and gas stations are very one dimensional although the film, despite its interesting but basic style, is one of the better entries in Statham's canon.

With Mud/Joe taking the more serious Southern dramatic route, Statham ensures a steady stream of aggressive action and brutal beatings with Franco going OTT as his ruthless rube rival. Kinetic and violent with a smattering of family story beats, it won't win any originality awards but steadfast Statham fans will have a brainless blast in the backwards bayou.

6 /10 Midlands Movies Mike.