Swapping Morgan Freeman for Tyler Perry as the titular ‘tec, this attempt to explore the roots of novelist James Patterson’s popular character falls flat thanks to a tone that never settles.
The story about a lunatic killer targeting our hero is shot with such dreadful ineptitude by Rob Cohen and Perry’s take on Cross is so high-minded and bland that even when he’s faced with real tragedy, it’s unconvincing. Matthew Fox pulls off an impressive physical transformation as weirdo killer Picasso, but squanders any promise with a tic-laden performance. All that works is some early chemistry between Perry, Burns and Nichols, but that is quickly discarded as the plot boils - though it really only ever simmers. A boring, botched reboot that does a potentially compelling character no justice at all.
