A remake of Michael Winner's 1972 slow-burner, about a hitman who grows a conscience after being contracted to kill a friend, seems a logical step for The Stath, whose perma-frown is a natural successor to Bronson's inscrutable screen persona, even if Simon 'Con Air' West's take doesn't have the guts to open with 15 dialogue-free minutes. The action is a long time coming, and even then it's pretty tame fare after the adrenaline rush of Crank. But with Ben Foster in the role of protégé (played in the original by future Airwolf star Jan-Michael Vincent), a classy supporting turn from a wheelchair-bound Donald Sutherland and some inspired plot twists, it's a cut above the Eurotrashy Transporter sequels, and may offer Britain's most popular export since Cheryl Cole a promising new franchise.
The Mechanic Review
The story focuses on a highly-skilled but emotionally detached hitman (Statham) who plans to retire when a young man (Foster) asks to be trained up in the profession. But is revenge on their minds?
Release Date:
28 Jan 2011
Running Time:
92 minutes
Certificate:
15
Original Title:
Mechanic, The
Better than The Transporter but not as much fun as Crank.
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