Review of Mechanic: Resurrection (2016) by Mike B — 28 Aug 2016

Mechanic: Resurrection is an unkept promise. On paper, the script looks classic Statham. A story born for fist-fights, blowing up cars, buildings and then some. But Mechanic: Resurrection turns out to be a dull piece of work that might go into history as one of Statham's worst films, and we know Crank 2 released.

Sequels are promises. Promises that they will come up with something equal, if not better than the first one. But this one is an unkept promise. The misogyny here is so thick, you can place a grenade into it and it still won't decimate all of it. Here are two actresses who have played kickass female characters - Michelle Yeoh in everything she's ever done and Jessica Alba in Fantastic Four (2005). Leaving them as simpering damsels in distress is not a message you'd like to give out to your audience in 2016. Yeoh plays Mae, Bishop's safe-place keeper.

Statham has phoned in this performance. The guy, known for his fantastic fist-to-limb fight sequences, takes the easy way out by gunning down the baddies. These fight sequences tell us why the ones in 'no-guns' rule make action films so much more watchable. The production values of the film are questionable at best. A Statham vehicle generally doesn't have so much visible CGI. The direction by Dennis Gansel is strictly TV material. The plot by Philip Shelby and Tony Mosher is riddled with holes bigger than the ones made by a cannonball when it hits a boat. There is zero chemistry between Statham and Alba, the villain is dourer than Statham in the film, if that's possible.

So, if you want to spend hours watching Statham pouring chemicals in a Bunsen burner looking stoic AF, this film is for you. For those who'd rather watch him doing action, there's a whole DVD collection dedicated to that.