Jason Statham doesn’t have a death wish for starring in a faithful remake of 1972’s “The Mechanic,” a hard-core action title made famous by the late Charles Bronson. In fact, Statham and Bronson share a lot in common as big-screen manly men: They have limited range. But what they can do, they do really well. Statham proves the point again as a pedal-to-the-metal “Mechanic,” today’s standard but mostly fulfilling genre piece. Extreme R-rated catharsis comes courtesy of the bullet spray, vicious combat and bloody but justifiable revenge.
With his sturdy physique and aerodynamic pate, Statham plays another of his steely but appealing purveyors of crime and violence. The charismatic toughie has perfected the type in movies from the “Transporter” series to last year’s “Expendables” to his most layered work in 2008’s “The Bank Job.”
Working a tired motif here, he’s the professional assassin anti-hero you root for because everyone around him is worse. Statham as Arthur Bishop is a hit man with a hint of guilt and a taste for classical music, Midcentury Modern design and leggy women.
‘The Mechanic’
| IF YOU GO |
| » Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars |
| » Stars: Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Tony Goldwyn |
| » Director: Simon West |
| » Rated: R for strong brutal violence throughout, language, some sexual content and nudity |
| » Running time: 100 minutes |
An expert employee of a mysterious organization, he is compelled to target his own mentor there, Harry McKenna (Donald Sutherland in a notable cameo). But Arthur feels bad about the hit. So he takes on Harry’s volatile son Steve (“The Messenger’s” terrifically menacing Ben Foster) as his new apprentice. The veteran teaches the newbie the art of how to carefully plan to execute someone and make it look like an accident. But the inelegant Steve cares only for the thrill of the kill.
We never do find out anything specific about this company/agency, other than that it brokers murders and a rich ruthless boss in a suit named Dean (Tony Goldwyn) runs it. Of course, vengeance against that guy will soon be necessary.
In the meantime, Arthur and Steve knock off a politically incorrect menagerie including a drug cartel lord with cruel bodyguards, a giant-size target with a predilection for Chihuahuas, a smarmy religious cult leader, etc.
The tightly wound if predictable screenplay adaptation (by Karl Gajdusek) gets a boost thanks to director Simon West. Remembered from over a decade ago for big box office schlock (“Con Air,” “Tomb Raider”), West does know how to leverage proper pacing and explosive action scenes. With Statham and Foster as dynamic focal points, this “Mechanic” tunes up the obligatory excitement.
