Review of Welcome to the Punch (2013) by John M — 10 Jul 2013

A bit on the formulaic side, but still worthwhile in parts. So this is about an obsessed detective (James McAvoy) who blew a bust on a major criminal (Mark Strong). Three years later, that criminal is resurfacing, so he is about to get a second shot.

I literally knew nothing about this going in, apart from being aware of who was starring. Ever since he got recognition with Atonement, James McAvoy has been on a mission to become an action-thriller star, and his recent roles definitely reflect that (Trance, X-Men: First Class, Wanted).

I think he is a capable actor, but I think I am always going to see him as the guy you call when you can't get Ewan McGregor. Mark Strong is an actor I always enjoy seeing, and I was actually surprised with this at the beginning, because between the acting and production values, all signs suggested this would be an under the radar favorite.

Unfortunately though, the script here is just average; it's not bad, but there are some issues in the story-telling department. The story here feels really familiar, because you've seen movies like this before.

Not that you can't make a quality film by following a formula, mind you, but you do have to do something that makes your movie stand out. There are a few cool scenes and a couple of nifty camera tricks that help to make this enjoyable.

There's also a scene at the midpoint in a warehouse that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's a mixed bag, with it not being a bad movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon on the couch, but it's not a must-see, unless you happen to be a really big fan of these actors.