Mr. Right

For F*** Magazine

MR. RIGHT 

Director : Paco Cabezas
Cast : Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, RZA, James Ransone, Anson Mount, Michael Eklund, Katie Nehra
Genre : Action/Comedy
Run Time : 95 mins
Opens : 21 April 2016
Rating : M18 (Coarse Language And Violence)

From Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Gigli to Killers and Please Kill Mr. Know-It-All, ‘hitman screwball comedies’ could be a subgenre unto its own, albeit one that hasn’t exactly yielded works of outstanding quality. The latest entry in this quirky bunch is Mr. Right, starring Sam Rockwell as the title character. Mr. Right is a loopy but scarily efficient contract killer, who, abiding by a twisted morality, has decided to turn the tables on those who hire him by killing them instead of the intended targets. He runs into Martha (Kendrick), a young woman still hurting after a bad breakup with her cheating boyfriend. The duo develop a fondness for each other and Mr. Right is ready to give up his unsavoury career to be with her. Unfortunately, his mentor-turned-nemesis Hopper (Roth) is on his tail, and Mr. Right also finds himself embroiled in a gang power struggle between brothers Richie (Mount) and Von (Ransone). Martha must ask herself this: “is it a deal-breaker if people are constantly shooting at my boyfriend, and that he’s shooting back?”

            Mr. Right is directed by Paco Cabezas, from a screenplay by Max Landis. Landis has quickly become one of the hottest screenwriters in Hollywood, with his scripts for Chronicle, American Ultra and Victor Frankenstein getting produced in quick succession with several more high-profile projects to follow. More jaded industry watchers (i.e. most of them) will attribute Landis’ success to the fact that his father is director John Landis. The younger Landis has displayed a markedly unlikeable attitude in interviews and social media interactions, so it’s no surprise that Mr. Right is glib and smug the whole way through. The action-romantic-comedy is aiming to be edgy and subversive, but is bogged down by clichés from both the action and the rom-com genres from the get-go: we counted at least three pop songs in the opening 10 minutes. There’s a nervous energy and some of the jokes do land, but the complete lack of sincerity makes it hard to connect to.

            Both Rockwell and Kendrick are immensely watchable actors and on the surface, it would seem Mr. Right plays to both their respective strengths and yet, it isn’t the best use of their talents. The set-up of a relatively normal gal falling for an enigmatic, dangerous assassin doesn’t take hold because both Martha and Mr. Right come off as over-the-top caricatures. Kendrick turns the adorkable hyperactive cutie thing up to 11, which is overwhelming rather than endearing. Rockwell has the unique ability to be simultaneously slimy and charming, but at the end of the day, we’re supposed to root for the couple to be together, instead of merely cocking our heads at their off-kilter chemistry. The aim is apparently for a less abusive Joker-and-Harley-Quinn-esque relationship to blossom, and while it’s obvious that the filmmakers want to steer clear of a standard rom-com progression, Martha and Mr. Right’s romance still unfolds in a predictable general pattern.

            As the main antagonist, Roth is pretty entertaining, putting on a goofy Alabama accent when his character is in disguise as an FBI agent. There’s meant to be an extensive personal history between Hopper and Mr. Right and to the film’s credit, there isn’t a lengthy exposition scene where said history is spelled out to the audience. However, their contentious relationship over the years doesn’t get satisfactorily fleshed out; their big confrontation nowhere near as explosive as it should be. The mobsters, with their Jersey drawls, slicked-back hair and patent leather jackets, are generally too goofy to be truly threatening. The big surprise here is RZA as beleaguered hitman Steve, who finds himself stuck with a rickety old shotgun while the other guys get automatic weapons. RZA is one of those rappers who also fancies himself an actor, the results thus far ranging from dull to laughable. He actually has considerable charisma here.

            Mr. Right has its moments when the cynical humour and slick action click into place, but for the most part, it is stuck feeling firmly like the work of people who are way too pleased with themselves for their own good. Because of its undercurrent of flippancy, which often mutates into an overcurrent, there’s not very much to grab onto. The in-your-face silliness might be viewed as some to an antidote for the po-faced action thrillers that are the norm now, but Mr. Right doesn’t earn our suspension of disbelief. Those in search of a satisfying, sure-footed action-comedy won’t find their match in Mr. Right.

Summary: Despite its quirky, charming leads, Mr. Right’s indulgent, misplaced sense of nihilistic irony quickly becomes unbearable.

RATING: 2 out of 5 Stars

Jedd Jong 

Brick Mansions

For F*** Magazine

BRICK MANSIONS

Director: Camille Delamarre
Cast:  Paul Walker, David Belle, RZA, Gouchy Boy, Catalina Denis, Robert Maillet, Richard Zeman, Carlo Rota
Genre: Action, Thriller
Run Time: 90 mins

If people who live in glass houses should not throw stones, then people who live in brick mansions should not...leap across rooftops? Okay, so maybe I didn’t think this one all the way through. Anyway, it’s 2018 and a section of a dystopian Detroit has been sealed off from the rest of the city, an open wound left to fester and dubbed “Brick Mansions”. Undercover cop Damien Collier (Walker) is sent into Brick Mansions to re-acquire a stolen neutron device that drug kingpin Tremaine Alexander (RZA) has gotten his hands on. Tremaine has also kidnapped Lola (Denis), the ex-girlfriend of Brick Mansions resident and Parkour expert Lino (Belle). Damien and Lino must forge an alliance as they navigate the mean streets (and rooftops and stairwells and corridors), uncovering a larger, dastardly scheme at play.

Brick Mansions is a remake of District 13, the 2004 French film that has since become a cult action flick favourite. Brick Mansions was made with the participation of many involved with the original, including writer/producer Luc Besson and co-star David Belle. District 13 gained attention for its elaborate Parkour-based action sequences and it was a good move getting Belle to reprise his role in the English-language version. Described as “the art of movement” and with a focus on navigating obstacles as gracefully and efficiently as possible, Parkour definitely looks cool on the screen. Brick Mansions seems to exist solely to cater to movie-goers who would rather not read subtitles while getting their action fix. While it’s largely unnecessary and does stick very closely to the structure, plot beats and look of District 13, Brick Mansions is still half-decent entertainment.



While Brick Mansions doesn’t feel quite as grimy and gritty as District 13 did, it still gives us a hellhole that our heroes use as their jungle gym. The feats of physical prowess on display are impressive, but the overuse of shaky cam and quick editing does somewhat diminish its impact. District 13 had Cyril Raffaelli as Damien, the late Paul Walker playing the same role here. Raffaelli is a traceur, martial artist and stuntman by training, so he could match his onscreen partner move for move, something Walker can’t. Still, through the use of stunt work, editing and Walker’s own training, it doesn’t feel like he’s lagging behind Belle and the film does give a nod to their differing methods. The scene in which both of them cooperate to take on giant bruiser Robert Maillet is a cheer-worthy moment.



We have a feeling that RZA is constantly surrounded by yes-men and enablers telling him he can act. He can’t, but his enthusiasm for the martial arts movie genre (which resulted in The Man with the Iron Fists and a villainous role in Tom Yum Goong 2) probably counts for something. His delivery is constantly flat, when lines like “Sometimes you don’t have to be a rocket scientist, you just got to have a rocket” call for over-the-top scenery chewing. To be fair, he does show a smidgen more range in this role. A smidgen. Ayisha Issa steals his thunder on multiple occasions as psychotic hench-wench Rayzah, this movie’s equivalent of Man of Steel’s Faora.

Brick Mansions is lean and fast-paced, but it offers nothing the original flick didn’t already. The plot is straightforward; the climactic twist not nearly as clever as Besson thinks it is. The action sequences are fun and it’s evident that some craftsmanship went into them, but they fall short of being truly spectacular or breath-taking. We miss Paul Walker, and while he wasn’t the greatest actor around, he definitely had a lot more ahead of him in his career and he does get the job done in Brick Mansions. The onscreen partnership between him and Belle is one we wouldn’t mind seeing more of; it’s a shame that won’t be possible. Still, we’re sure Paul Walker would be pleased if the image of him that stayed in the minds of fans was that of an upstanding guy who leaps through glass windows and kicks ass alongside the co-founder of Parkour.

Summary: While Brick Mansions is not an improvement on the French-language original, there’s still enough slick athleticism on display and it’s an entertaining diversion for relatively undemanding action flick junkies.

RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars

Jedd Jong

Tom Yum Goong 2

For F*** Magazine

TOM YUM GOONG 2

Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Cast:  Tony Jaa, RZA, Petchtai Wongkamlao a.k.a. Mum Jokmok, Marrese Crump, Jija Yanin Wismitanan, Ratha Pho-ngam, Kazu Patric Tang, Kalp Hongratanaporn, David Ismalone
Genre: Action, Thriller
Run Time: 104 mins
Opens: 7 November 2013
Rating: NC16 (Violence and Some Coarse Language)

         Any action star worth his salt has a trademark: Van Damme does the splits, Schwarzenegger cracks corny one-liners, Jackie Chan integrates prop comedy into his fighting and Tony Jaa has his elephants. If he asks “where are my elephants?!” it is far wiser to point in the direction of the nearest pachyderm and scram than to laugh in his face. This, his first film since becoming a Buddhist monk for a period, is a sequel to 2005’s Tom-Yum-Goong and a second serving of the spicy stuff that’s definitely an acquired taste.

            Kham (Jaa) is wrongly accused of killing a powerful tycoon and elephant camp proprietor; the man’s nieces (Yanin Vismitananda and Teerada Kittisiriprasert) in hot pursuit and out for revenge. Kham is able to convince his friend Sergeant Mark (Petchtai Wongkamlao) of his innocence, and Mark informs him this may be connected to an impending terrorist attack. The target is a peace treaty signing between the rulers of East and West Katana. Crime lord and arms dealer Mr. L.C. (RZA) isn’t too keen on the prospect of the end of the civil war. He also runs a fight club in which the world’s most skilled martial artists are pitted against each other for his own entertainment, his henchman No. 2 (Marrese Crump) and femme fatale Twenty (Phongam) among them. He has his sights set on adding Kham to his “collection” – oh, and he’s captured Kham’s beloved elephant Khon as well. Bad move, Mr. L.C.

            Fans of the films of old-school martial arts icons like Sonny Chiba and Cynthia Rothrock would probably go in for Tom Yum Goong 2. The film does have more than its share of extremely silly moments and a sprinkling of “so bad it’s good” charm that does seem very typical of the genre but that moviegoers will not find in Hollywood action flicks these days. The film does inspire thoughts to the effect of “were they aware this is silly? Was this intentional? It’s gotta be, right?” and maybe that’s your thing.

            It goes without saying that in a film like this, it’s action first, plot (and logic of any kind) second. The flow of the story is completely interrupted by some lengthy action beats that don’t seem to have very much bearing on said story at all. An early sequence involves Kham getting surrounded by “moto-punks” on a rooftop (how the motorcycles got on the roof is the least of our concerns, really). Such bits have an over-choreographed “stunt show” feel to them and you could be forgiven for wondering “wait, so what does this have to do with the narrative again?” and similar thoughts will continue to creep in as the movie progresses.

            Lest we start sounding like killjoys, it is worth noting that the fights and stunts are very impressive. Audiences generally get a kick out of seeing displays of superlative physical prowess on screen, and Jaa delivers that in spades. Earlier in his career, he made a name for himself as a martial artist/actor who did not rely on wire work and computer-generated assistance. Well, there is a very noticeable use of sub-par CGI in places, mostly to emphasize the “stuff flying out of the screen” gags (the film was shot in 3D; we saw the 2D version). At no point does it look like Jaa is “cheating” though, and it pretty clearly is him doing those badass Muay Thai moves, whether it’s when he’s using flaming shoes as weapons or swinging from a bridge by a rope around his ankle.

            The film’s supporting cast includes a number of very formidable combatants whom we certainly can believe can hold their own against Jaa, including “lightning bruiser” Marrese Crump. On the not so punchy-kicky front, Petchtai Wongkamlao returns as Sergeant Mark and plays the role straighter than in the first film which definitely helps. Yanin "Jeeja" Vismitananda, star of Chocolate and Raging Phoenix, is effectively intense as one half of a tag team, though the role of “fan service provider” falls to the sexy Yayaying Rhatha Phongam, last seen opposite Ryan Gosling in Only God Forgives.

            Of course, you need a big bad villain in your over-the-top martial arts picture and that role is filled here by RZA (born Robert Fitzgerald Diggs) of the Wu-Tang Clan. The hip hop artist has attempted to break into acting with The Man with the Iron Fists and a small role in GI Joe: Retaliation. He is not a great actor, but we cannot fault the guy’s passion and enthusiasm for the martial arts movie genre. He must have leapt at the chance to play the bad guy to Tony Jaa and while this is the umpteenth “underground martial arts tournament organiser” villain we’ve seen, the guy does have a good time with it.

            Tony Jaa is now charging into Hollywood with a role in the upcoming Fast and Furious 7. We have to wonder how he’ll work the elephants into that one. Tom Yum Goong 2 is something of an improvement over its predecessor (it doesn’t have scenes like Sergeant Mark’s superfluous tour of Chinatown) but if you’re looking for a realistic, gritty fight movie, turn away now. The clashes in this flick are as inventive and entertaining as they are pretty ridiculous, and it is in fact because they are cheesy in that exaggerated 80s kung fu flick tradition that the movie is ultimately enjoyable. Stick around during the end credits to watch a mix of behind-the-scenes footage and outtakes.

SUMMARY: Liam Neeson memorably barked “take the f**king elephant!” in Darkman. Our advice – don’t take Tony Jaa’s elephant. TYG2 is gratuitously silly but is undeniably entertaining at the same time.

RATING: 3 out 5 Stars

Jedd Jong