Worth: $14.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
James Clayton, Vinnie Jones, Lina Lecompte, Janvier Katabarwa
Intro:
… a self-aware slab of bloody-minded fun that doesn’t outstay its welcome.
Since his acting debut in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels back in 1998, Vinnie Jones has been plugging away, appearing in everything from John Travolta flicks to Madagascar sequels. Although he will never reach the dizzying heights, in terms of credits, bestowed to the likes of Eric Roberts or Danny Trejo, the former soccer player seems content to keep turning up to work with a grimace on his face and a punch to throw. And who can really argue with that kind of work ethic?
The latest film to carry Jones’ steely gaze is Death Pursuit, from actor turned director James Clayton (Genesis Code). Originally called Bullet Proof (and presumably changed so it won’t be confused with Adam Sandler’s action comedy, Bulletproof or the same-titled series from Noel Clarke), the film sees the aforementioned Clayton as an unnamed thief (aka The Thief) who manages to abscond with a large amount of cash and so much more. After an opening Looney Tunes-esque one man heist, The Thief carjacks an unsuspecting goon employed by gangland boss, Temple (Hello, Jones!).
Unbeknown to The Thief, the goon was helping to smuggle Temple’s pregnant wife Mia (Lina Lecompte) from under Temple’s nose in the boot of his now stolen car. With Temple’s cash, wife and unborn child in his hands, The Thief decides to polish up his heart of gold and help Mia escape her partner’s clutches.
Although Clayton could easily have taken Death Pursuit down a road of gritty clenched jaws and posturing, he clearly has his sights on having fun with the premise, in the vein of Shooting Aces or Drive Angry. It’s one of those films where you know everyone is in on what they are making, from Jones through to stunt performer Janvier Katabarwa (Peacemaker) as the Frenchman, an unflappable assassin who doesn’t even let falling off a cliff faze him.
Sure, the plot is flimsy, and characters are lacking in depth. However, that’s not what Death Pursuit is about. It’s an adventure show where The Thief drives off into the end credits to help someone else in next week’s episode. It’s about being able to sit down and let the carnage and choreographed violence wash over you. It’s a film where our hero escapes the baddies by hiding his car behind a pile of metal before reversing slowly away in the background while his pursuers look defeated. In short, it’s a self-aware slab of bloody-minded fun that doesn’t outstay its welcome.
