If you're pressed for time, I'll cut to the chase: For everything that No Escape does well, it manages to do five things wrong. After watching the trailer, I never really understood what genre this film was supposed to fall in whether action or drama. After watching the movie, I'm still not quite sure. The film manages to stumble between both like a drunk bar customer after last call. Neither is done exceptionally well. I found the action sequences to have quite a bit of unnecessary slow-mo that proved to be more annoying than cool. There are some intense moments where you might be gripping your seat like I was as the actors stumble forward in pure silence, but it never seems to deviate from what I found it to be: A film that knows it has an R-rating, but can't seem to fully embrace it. There is blood and violence, yes, but quick cutaways never expose the full carnage. I think this takes away some power from the magnitude of the situation the cast find themselves in.
I've never seen Owen Wilson in such a role where he's having to be 95% serious. I blame him for not making me a believer. I couldn't manage to connect with him on any level, neither as a father or out-of-towner that finds himself in such a crazy situation where his life is in danger. When I can't connect, I found myself shutting down from a film that could otherwise be quality. Before you tell me I didn't give the man a chance, I have had nothing but great things to say about Amy Shumer's role in Trainwreck. It was unfortunate that Wilson couldn't duplicate Shumer's efforts.
The acting as a whole stifled the more drama-filled moments. On second thought, maybe it was a combination of the acting and a few cases of wrong-place-wrong-time. This movie follows the story of a family of four that moves to China so the father can start a new career. Unfortunately for them, they are caught in the middle of a riot where they become a prime target. I wanted to feel sorry for them. I really did. However, the acting kept me somewhat at bay. The kids were overly annoying and Wilson's wife Annie (Lake Bell) was never someone I could bring myself to care about.
Two final things that turned me off: 1. The antagonist. Just sadistic without really a justifiable motive. If your aim is to kill Americans to protect your family, why do you feel the urge to rape or perform over-the-top killings? Just saying...2. I'm not a fan of movies where the protagonists are pretty helpless from start to finish. I know the movie is called No Escape but seriously? This is probably why I have such a hard time watching horror films. A main character doesn't have to start out empowered, but I would hope that, by the end of the movie, he's gained a leg-up in power, survival, etc.
No Escape is probably not worth your time in theaters. I give it a 32.
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