Homefront is an action flick written by Sylvester Stalone and based on some novel. The movie's poster did not seem promising, as it was badly designed with an American flag clumsily photoshopped over the lead's body, but I decided to give it a chance on Netflix. What I got to see was nothing awe-inspiring, but also nothing awful.
Stalone does not appear in this movie, and instead the main star is the former-athlete-turned-action-hero Jason Statham. He plays a DEA agent Phil Broker who, after a failed undercover mission that resulted in a bloodbath, decides to retire and live peacefully with his young daughter Maddy, played by Izabela Vidovic, in a small American town. However, this town happens to be the headquarters of a mad drug-lord known as Gator played by James Franco, who starts causing troubles to this small family. The actual reason why Gator hates the Brokers is very implausible and unclear, and has to do something with Maddy punching his nephew once in school. This small incident is apparently enough to motivate Gator to join forces with the remaining members of the gang that got busted in Phil's last mission and plan a violent revenge. I guess character motivations aren't the best part of this movie.
What ensues after this buildup are some modest action scenes during which Statham beats and shoots numerous thugs while protecting his daughter. Gary Fledel does a very terrible job at directing Homefront, so most intense moments are ruined by annoying shaky cam. Statham is a good wrecking havoc and still remembers to show a little bit of emotion, but the rest of the cast gives some mediocre performances, with the exception of Franco, who is extremely unconvincing and forgettable as the villain.
I liked how the movie is set in an ordinary Southern town where most of the citizens are just regular folks minding their own business and taking care of their land and families. However, that also makes me wonder why Statham is cast, since he is an Englishman and does not seem like somebody who'd enjoy riding a horse, although he does that a lot in the movie.
As a whole, Homefront is obviously nothing special, but fans of action flicks and/or Jason Statham will probably find this film entertaining.
Stalone does not appear in this movie, and instead the main star is the former-athlete-turned-action-hero Jason Statham. He plays a DEA agent Phil Broker who, after a failed undercover mission that resulted in a bloodbath, decides to retire and live peacefully with his young daughter Maddy, played by Izabela Vidovic, in a small American town. However, this town happens to be the headquarters of a mad drug-lord known as Gator played by James Franco, who starts causing troubles to this small family. The actual reason why Gator hates the Brokers is very implausible and unclear, and has to do something with Maddy punching his nephew once in school. This small incident is apparently enough to motivate Gator to join forces with the remaining members of the gang that got busted in Phil's last mission and plan a violent revenge. I guess character motivations aren't the best part of this movie.
What ensues after this buildup are some modest action scenes during which Statham beats and shoots numerous thugs while protecting his daughter. Gary Fledel does a very terrible job at directing Homefront, so most intense moments are ruined by annoying shaky cam. Statham is a good wrecking havoc and still remembers to show a little bit of emotion, but the rest of the cast gives some mediocre performances, with the exception of Franco, who is extremely unconvincing and forgettable as the villain.
I liked how the movie is set in an ordinary Southern town where most of the citizens are just regular folks minding their own business and taking care of their land and families. However, that also makes me wonder why Statham is cast, since he is an Englishman and does not seem like somebody who'd enjoy riding a horse, although he does that a lot in the movie.
As a whole, Homefront is obviously nothing special, but fans of action flicks and/or Jason Statham will probably find this film entertaining.