There’s a slight irony that, for a movie based around a fast-moving vehicle, “Mutiny” is an interminable slog. Ultimately, it’s a bland movie that doesn’t really offend in any way, but it wastes so much time and energy when audiences are showing up to watch action and fights. When those do happen, it’s not bad—but they occur very infrequently and are over way too soon. Director Jean-François Richet (working from a script by J.P. Davis and Lindsay Michel) demonstrates multiple times an understanding of how to utilize star Jason Statham effectively, it’s just that the screenplay doesn’t provide enough chances to do so. “Mutiny” is a bore that thinks it’s a taut thriller in which viewers will still think its 95-minute runtime is excessive.
Cole Reed (Jason Statham) is a former London cop turned bodyguard in Thailand. When his employer, a shipping magnate, is killed, Reed is framed for the murder and goes on the run to find out who did it and why. The trail leads him to one of his former boss’ freighters, an unruly crew, and a troubling secret. Working with the only member aboard the ship he can trust (Annabelle Wallis), Reed is outgunned but may not be outmatched.
The main problem with “Mutiny” isn’t that the filmmakers mistake tension for being interesting, but that they don’t understand the very source of that tension. This is a Jason Statham movie. With the Cole Reed character (and true Statham persona), the guy is always the toughest in the room with greatest strategic intellect and internal resources. But “Mutiny” acts like the question is “if” Cole will get out of these situations, and then slowly has him move about the boat and evade notice or climb out of various problems. That’s not the pressing question for audiences. It’s a given, based not just on the character that’s been established but the vast majority of Statham’s filmography. The real source of tension for “Mutiny” should have been “how” will Cole get out of these situations. When it answers that question—usually through killing folks or causing some damage—the movie isn’t awful. But that only happens less than a handful of times, resulting in, like, 1.5 interesting sequences.
To Richet’s credit, working with DP Brendan Galvin, those few sequences are shot and blocked especially well. So much so that you think “okay, NOW it’s going to get interesting.” But no, “Mutiny” never fully engages. It would be easy to take clips from this film (or even just the trailer) and make it seem like a truly badass experience. Richet, Galvin, Statham, and the stunt team have impressive moments, but there are oases amidst a desert of boring walking and stern line delivery. But still, we hover on a narrow escape, or unnecessary backstory, or other nonsense rather than get to the fireworks factory. It’s almost tempting to wish those highlights weren’t in “Mutiny,” because then it wouldn’t get your hopes up or demonstrate that all involved were capable of delivering an entertaining action movie, they just chose to pad it out with directionless filler instead.
Statham is fine in his role, one that he’s played many times before and will play many times again. When given the opportunity to shine, he does; but those opportunities are sadly sparse. Wallis’ character is more interesting as she’s not a damsel in distress nor some impossible superhuman (like Statham), but instead a seemingly normal person who’s in a shitty position but can rise to a challenge when pushed. Their dynamic is fine, nothing novel or impressive, but at least it’s not as reductive as it could’ve been. Richet assembled a good squad of actors and stunt performers as henchmen who acquit themselves well (however infrequently they’re called upon to do so), but the main villains are passable at best. Not that there needed to be some grand personal entanglement to it or anything, but not enough is done to make them seem like imposing threats—especially before the might of Statham.
“Mutiny” isn’t actually “Die Hard” on a boat (that’s “Under Siege”), but—in a kind of clever reversal that’s woefully underdeveloped—it’s a reverse “Die Hard” on a boat, where the stowaway taking out the crew is the good guy. You’ll find yourself thinking of “Under Siege,” “Project Wolf Hunting,” and other ship-bound films during the seemingly endless 95 minutes, wishing you could be watching those titles instead of witnessing Statham stealthily walk down another corridor. “Mutiny” makes too many tragic mistakes, accrues too many misunderstandings of what’s engaging to audiences. When it does do something interesting, it’s over too soon and back to business as usual. The elements for a cool, fun, action movie were here…but they were assembled in possibly the most boring fashion imaginable.
1.5 / 5 Stars
Directed by: Jean-François Richet
Starring: Jason Statham, Annabelle Wallis, Roland Møller, Adrian Lester
