Review of Law Abiding Citizen (2009) by Daniel S — 29 Dec 2018

I love films where something goes wrong, but the bad guy reveals they wanted that to happen all along and you realise the bad guy is a bad guy genius. Watching chess masters unleash an impossibly complex, crystal-ball-requiring plan is always fun, so I was kind of hoping this would be great.

Unfortunately it is not. The start of the film sets up a really interesting premise (of a man let down by the justice system taking his revenge) that is largely squandered by the end of it all by not allowing him any moral high ground.

Heâ(TM)s treated as the bad guy all the way through even before the script makes him a bad guy. The good guy doesnâ(TM)t really learn or change, except in one way that isnâ(TM)t led up to at all. The action bits are largely done well, thereâ(TM)s some nicely scripted exchanges, and thereâ(TM)s always fun to be had with these â~heâ(TM)s thought of everythingâ(TM) stories, but overall itâ(TM)s either not ridiculous enough in terms of plot or too ridiculous in terms of characterization.

Also, how dare you expect me to buy Gerard Butler as a genius. I promise you it wonâ(TM)t end well. Just ask Geostorm.