Safe

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Safe
Released 4/27/12, now in theaters

What do you get when you have a pre-adolescent girl who knows too much (literally) chased on three fronts by the Russian Mob, Chinese Mob, and corrupt NYC detectives with Jason Statham as her only protector?  You get the mash-up action flick, Safe. 

Mei is a young Chinese girl that has an exceptional mind for numbers.  She comes to the attention of the Chinese mob through one of her classmates.  She is brought before a mobster who she will later come to know as "Uncle Han."  Mei's abilities are very valuable to Uncle Han's "business."  He coerces Mei into working for him by threatening her extremely ill mother.  He orders the girl to the U.S. (NYC) under the protection of his henchman (enforcer), Quan.  Mei's first duties in the U.S. are to keep track of the collection money Quan collects in her computer like brain.

 One day, however, Han comes to the U.S. and asks her to memorize a list of seemingly unrelated numbers.  As Quan takes her to the next location for further instructions, his party is ambushed by the Russians and Mei is taken.  The Russians want the #s in her head.  Mei escapes when the NYC police arrive at the Russian stronghold led by corrupt Captain Wolf.  The good Captain is playing the Russians and Chinese against each other willing to sell Mei to the highest bidder or, as he later learns about the data she is carrying, profit from the information himself with his crooked detectives. 

On the run, Mei encounters Luke Wright (Statham) in the subway.  Luke is homeless, down on his luck, and suicidal.  He's also a former NYC detective that was part of an elite anti-terrorist unit in the department.  Luke was disgraced when he turned whistle blower on his corrupt associates.  Since leaving the force, he made a living as an underground cage fighter.  His wife and unborn child were murdered by the Russian Mob when he didn't throw a fight.  When Luke protects Mei from the Russian thugs chasing her, he sees his shot at redemption.  It's going to take all his wits and flying fists to keep both Mei and himself alive from the Russians, Chinese, and  NYC cops trying to reacquire her. 

Jason Statham has fast become my favorite action star.  The character he plays here doesn't break any new ground for him.  He's all cool, smoldering anger until he breaks someone's neck.  He pulls these roles off extremely well.  He's found a niche that works for him.  I can also count on one hand how many groaners he's spouted in his movies which is a good thing.  Schwarzenegger has a thousand page book of these from Batman and Robin alone.

 Luke is a multi dimensional character. He's no angel.  He's done things in the line of duty that resemble assassinations more than police work.  He does, however, have a limit which is what caused him trouble with the department.  He serves his penance by allowing himself to be pummeled in the cage when he can easily best any of his opponents (except the one fighter he puts in a coma).  Protecting Mei becomes his salvation which he sees through to its bloody conclusion.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***1/2 stars

Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.