Review: ‘WRATH OF MAN’ is a New Style of Crime Thriller for Guy Ritchie, but Why is the Plot so Muddy?!

Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie are teaming up again, but this time it’s noticeably different. Wrath of Man is entertaining, but there is plenty of unnecessary confusion in the plot. Is the film worth your time? Check out the full breakdown of what’s covered in the video review.

• Plot
• Acting
• Directing, Cinematography and Score
• Observations and Takeaways
• Statham and Ritchie
• Was it Entertaining
• Should You See it or Not

I might be biased, but who’s counting, I’m a fan of Statham. I enjoy his brand of action films and his on-screen persona. Usually, you know what you get with a Statham movie. Ritchie has had a similar noticeable style of filmmaking, but it has shifted in recent years with him directing movies such as Aladdin. Statham and Ritchie have worked on Revolver and more notably Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, but that brings me to Wrath of Man.

When I mentioned it’s different, it’s because Statham is a lot more reserved in this role, don’t get me wrong, still kickin’ ass, but in a more methodical and calculated way. Statham’s character “H” is mysterious, conflicted and ruthless. It’s a different side of Statham for this genre. Think more Liam Neeson and Denzel in movies like Man on Fire and Equalizer. I like this sort of character portrayal for Statham as he enters a new phase in his career.

Same goes for Ritchie. Fans of his earlier hits such as Snatch got used to a certain kind of humor filled with witty and snarky British dialogue, an aspect he’s attempted to include in many of his films. There are still some clever one-liners in Wrath of Man, but it’s a lot more darker and serious. Fans of his work will definitely see this difference, I actually liked that darker and less humorous tone.

I felt the film was entertaining, but the one big issue was the unnecessary confusion in the plot. Mainly with who is who? Who is working for who? The distractions aimed to keep things unpredictable, but ended up just being plain overwhelming and confusing. There are so many turns and misdirections in terms of who is a perceived hero and villain, it just made me more confused and detached.

The cast is good. The actors do a good job (look out for the Post Malone cameo). The plot and genre is nothing we haven’t seen before, so why fuck around trying to confuse the viewer with misdirections that ultimately don’t do anything for the climax and ending of the film? Don’t muddy a straightforward basic story for the sake of perceived intrigue.

Wrath of Man is entertaining though. Once the action ramps up in the final act, it doesn’t stop. You still get all the shoot em’ up you came for. Statham doing what he does best. If you’re a fan of Ritchie and Statham, you’ll enjoy this film. If you’re a fan of the crime thriller genre, you’ll most likely find it enjoyable also. This is a good mix of a heist and revenge movie.

I liken it to a movie I was a huge fan of in recent years, Den of Thieves, it has a similar feel, maybe because both are set in downtown LA. Check out Wrath of Man in theaters if you can. It will add to the experience. I watched it on my laptop and felt I missed out on some of the loud action sequences and the terrific score of the film.

Wrath of Man is a new and fresh diversion for Ritchie and Statham, one that leaves you with intrigue for what’s to come from them in the future.

GENRE: Action, Thriller

RATING: R

RUNTIME: 1 hr 58 min

RELEASE DATE: ‘Wrath of Man’ releases in Theaters on May 7

• Acting: 7.5/10
• Entertainment: 7/10
• Story/Plot: 6/10
• Impression: 8/10
• Creativity: 6.5/10

WRATH OF MAN Score: 70%

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