Rating: 2/5 stars
“American Assassin” is directed by Michael Cuesta (“Kill the Messenger”) and stars Dylan O’Brien (“Teen Wolf”) as Mitch Rapp, a young CIA black ops recruit who teams up with Michael Keaton (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”) to thwart the launch of a nuclear weapon in the Middle East. O’Brien is entirely capable as the lead, being as he pulls off the stunts with ease.
Michael Keaton is also superb as the tough CIA trainer. Ever since 2014’s “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance),” Keaton has proven time again how he is an impeccable actor capable of giving award-winning performances. His role here might not be his most memorable, but his performance as the resourceful leader stands out among the rest of the bland supporting cast, which includes Sanaa Lathan (“Shots Fired”) as the demanding deputy director, Shiva Negar (“Let’s Rap”) as Rapp’s female companion and Taylor Kitsch (“True Detective”) as the film’s primary antagonist. None of these characters are memorable in the slightest, acting like archetypes of characters seen in cookie-cutter action movies before. This is the main problem with “American Assassin.”
The script is entirely composed of cinematic tropes and clichés. From the villain being a former American operative gone rogue to the damaged hero looking for revenge, the movie is simply subpar and generic. Even the look and sound of the film is nothing to write home about. The production design is akin to that of a CBS drama (it is a CBS Films production after all), the score by Steven Price (“Gravity”) is forgettable, and all the exotic locations look the same. Rome is entirely indistinguishable from Tripoli and vice versa. There is also no action sequence in this movie to make it stand out from the competition.
The first act of “American Assassin” does do a decent job in keeping the viewer both invested and excited for what this film should become. Unfortunately, the film failed in living up to that expectation. Though the film wanted to go for a more somber tone, it really hindered the final product in the long run. In fact, this film will most likely be forgotten in the coming months. Not every action movie will be as groundbreaking as “Raiders of the Lost Ark” or “Terminator 2,” but you must try to do more rather than resort to the bare minimum.
Those looking for something not too out of the ordinary will feel right at home here, but those seeking more thrills and memorable action scenarios should consider looking elsewhere. The “Mission: Impossible” film series is more enjoyable and thrilling than this flick. “American Assassin” boasts adequate leads, but regurgitates the same tired tropes seen over and over again with little room for improvement.
Photo provided by CBS Films via YouTube.com
