A movie like Death Race is a very simple one. If you love action, violence, and killing machines with a steering wheel, then this is for you. What you see is what you get. It’s fast-paced with tons of action that mostly includes causing destruction with vehicles. The movie doesn’t really dive into the characters. You really only get to know the main character played by Jason Statham. However, this is not supposed to be a character driven movie. That is not its audience. It aims to entertain, and there are no limits for director Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil franchise).
Of course, Statham does not stretch his characters. It is almost like he plays the same guy, but fits him into different situations. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it does not. Well, I can tell you it worked earlier in the year with The Bank Job and it works in this one now. I must say The Bank Job is better and a helluva lot smarter.
Also, may I say it was kind of refreshing to see Joan Allen in this? She always plays in more complex films with deeper characters, but I think she was tired of that and just wanted to be in a movie where she could curse. It really seems that most of these actors took the job to have fun and kick ass. Will this movie impress people with its story and in depth characters? Nope. Not a chance. However, the movie accomplishes what it sets out to do: entertain.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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