The Mechanic

Written by Alex Sukhoy for Film Slate Magazine.

“The Mechanic,” the new action thriller starring Brit Jason Statham, pumps ninety-two solid minutes of pure adrenaline. Combined with the testosterone of Ben Foster (“3:10 to Yuma”), Tony Goldwyn (“Ghost”) and veteran actor Donald Sutherland, and including lots of guns, jumps, chases, crashes and explosions, the film lacks any dull moments.

The movie, directed by Simon West (“Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”), begins with Statham, who plays Arthur Bishop, a for-hire assassin doing what he does best: killing a wealthy and questionable businessman in his private mansion, while the unsuspecting man takes a leisurely swim in his own pool. Arthur, stealthy in the murder and in the critical moments after, later learns that his next assignment requires him to kill Sutherland’s Harry McKenna, the father figure and trusted friend with whom Arthur just had a private conversation.

But the story truly begins when Harry’s criminal son Steve (Foster) approaches the independent Arthur, looking to join him in his risky and dangerous line of work. After initial hesitation the killer, feeling guilty, takes the young man as an apprentice, teaching him the logistics and tricks of the trade: “mechanics” fix things. A partnership forms between the two men as they pursue dubious characters, in exchange for exorbitant amounts of cash, paid by Arthur’s boss, Dean (Goldwyn).

Part “The Professional” with a little “Karate Kid” thrown in for good measure, “The Mechanic” could have easily fallen into the predictable, formulaic and long list of similar films pumped out by the studio machine. In fact, quite quickly, the audience begins to realize who the bad guy is, when the big secret unravels along with each man’s occupational motive. Instead, the movie surprises, scene after scene.

Statham, very much a character actor, has built his entire career on being the same person in most of his roles. Beginning with his first film, Guy Ritchie’s “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” following up with Ritchie’s “Snatch” and a long portfolio of films since, including “The Transporter (1, 2 and 3),” “Collateral,” “The Bank Job” and now “The Mechanic,” Statham expertly plays the smart, sexy, swift and sarcastic bad boy, one who gets the job done, on his terms, comes through at the last second and finishes what he starts.

Additionally, the movie works because there is no love interest–no damsel in distress to be rescued, saved, etc.–thus respecting the intelligence of the audience. “The Mechanic” never pretends to be more than what it is: a tightly-packed express train ride, full of witty dialog, gruesome violence and unpredictable reactions. The movie simply focuses on its primary goal, to entertain via edgy escapism.

With mind-numbing summer sequels soon approaching, producers could incorporate a lesson or two from “The Mechanic,” specifically that action movies, if done right, can appeal to multiple audiences. And, that even tried and true premises can still be engaging when approached from a smart, fresh and fun perspective. Fix that, Hollywood.

DIRECTOR: Simon West SCREENWRITERS: Richard Wenk, Lewis John Carlino PRODUCERS: Boaz Davidson, Danny Dimbort, Danny Lerner  CAST: Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland, Tony Goldwyn MPAA RATING: R