Veteran Liam Neeson does vanishing point meets smokey and the bandit... while flirting with female K.I.T.T... whattt. Machismo kitsch much. Not a recommendation I'd make, but if you're interested in Neeson's film travels, this sits on the better side of his average.Fun fact, Vanselow is a longtime stuntman with previous credits on Neeson's films, making his directorial debut here. And you can feel that stuntman's fingerprints across the whole affair. And there's a cheap, straight-to-streaming aesthetic, with occasional detours into made-for-tv territory. Harmless, daft, generalized and amusing dialogue, patriotic sentimental waterdrops with a slight twist, and adderall-fuelled editing. A bad-good movie from beginning to end, and I might have guilty-enjoyed it more than expected.The story is a straightforward affair: a man and his (stolen) car, the mongoose and the snake (?). The cops go "vroom" and chase him down after a finger-wagging offence... or did he commit one? Thus begins the whole automotive circus. Meanwhile, Vanselow explores the trauma of war veterans through flashbacks that take us straight to its source. Neeson circles back to his escape, recalling the advice of his ex, played by Marisa Tomei (yes, she's also in this), and the reasons behind his fight, his flight and his attempt to outrun the ghosts of his past.And by the way, Neeson has better chemistry with his car's AI assistant than with Tomei, which was... odd. I don't know what it is about his performance here, but he reminds me an awful lot of his naked gun role. I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd broken the fourth wall and winked at the audience. It's the writing, idk. Or that movie will now always influence me when I'm watching "serious" Neeson flick.So you know what? Three stars. I have to concede and confess that there's enough charm here to evoke those pre 90s action flicks, basking in their own triumphal glory, where america's old war dogs and their brotherhood help us raise our fists in the air and holler, "You can do it!" The spirit of feel-good entertainment survives in Neeson's greying hair and that resolute, sage stare. Such a clumsy-ass action flick, but I loved the passion behind it. What the F good movie. Whatever.56/100
