Review of No Escape (2015) by Xavier G — 24 Nov 2015

Oh boy, I'll admit, that movie took a bit of a toll on me. I mean, my palms were sweating, a lot.

"No Escape" stars Owen Wilson and Lake Bell, and we follow the story of an ordinary family man who gets caught in a race war in China. Honestly, there are plenty of stories that are similar to this one, but that doesn't hide the fact that this movie was intense, thrilling, exciting, and even a bit emotional. There are some great actors at the helm, along with some relatable characters, and a decent screenplay.

To start out, there's no other way to say it, but this movie was intense and rough. The movie feels very real at times, and this will probably make some people very uncomfortable and uneasy. With that being said, I still think that this movie accomplished what it was set out to do, which was make an intense thriller with some relatable characters. There was plenty of enjoyment to be had in this movie, even though there were some awkward moments along with Grade B movie moments. But, there was no shortage of intense moments, and my palms were sweating throughout the entire movie.

What really made this movie for me was really the situation. Owen Wilson plays the role of an ordinary dad who had to move his family to China, and the minute he gets there, hell breaks loose, and he is caught in what appears to be a race war. When you try and put yourself in the situation that he was caught in, I honestly would not know what to do. Chaos is ensuing all around you, and the fact that he is just an everyday common man makes it so much better. Since I didn't really know what to do, it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the film. It was a bit difficult to predict where the movie was heading next, as it was honestly like seeing hell play out in a third world country. Many of the situations are real, and are actually pretty visually grossing. When you watch this movie, I just ask that you put yourself into his situation and put yourself in his shoes. It's a difficult thing to do, and it makes the movie even more emotional than it probably should've been.

The actors in this movie do a great job, and Owen Wilson at the helm was perfect. I am a big fan of him as an actor, and he brought plenty of emotion and realism to the role. I really saw him as a dad who would do anything to keep his family safe, and you are rooting for him the whole way. Lake Bell did a good job as his significant other, and although she wasn't a standout by any means, she did her role well. The kids were how you probably thought they would be, and although they were "annoying" at times, I think they were necessary for the story, as they added a family dynamic to the situation.

I was also upset that Pierce Bronson had a little role in this movie. I thought he would be present more throughout the film, but he was only major in a few scenes.

In the end, this film does what it's set out to do, and although it isn't revolutionary by any means, it's an intense thriller with a pretty entertaining/scary plot. It's uncomfortable and awkward at times, and there are a few moments where it feels like a Grade B movie. But with every awkward moment, there is an intense or emotional scene to match. The first half was exciting, and the second half was solid enough. I just had a really good time with this movie and I think that this movie was the best that it could've been. In the end, it deserves a nice 4 stars, along with the recommendation that you give this movie a chance.