Film Review: 'Escape Plan' offers you a decent time at the movies

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Caviezel, Sam Neill
Director: Mikael Håfström
Rating: ***

What's it about
Ray Breslin (Stallone) is a prison break expert who escapes the most secure jails in the country to show their vulnerability and expose the loop holes. What seems like yet another task turns into a nightmare for him when a sadistic jail warden Hobbes (Caviezel) kidnaps him putting him in his institution that throws up the biggest challenge for Breslin he's ever faced. The story gets the much needed adrenaline rush when Arnold shows up. From here begins a game of cat and mouse with the two action stalwarts playing off each other.  

What's hot
Fans of the actors are in for a real treat. Despite their age, just having Stallone and Arnold in the same frame and poke fun at each other is super entertaining. The computer graphics and imagery showing how Breslin plans his escapes is interesting. There is a lot of intelligent writing in the film, especially the second half where these  actors plans the big escape. Dialogues and the banter between Arnold and Stallone is what keeps the momentum light and fun. "You fight like a vegetarian", chuckles the former as he blows a punch into Rocky.

What's not
A lot of Escape Plan depends heavily on its two big guns - the actors. The pace slackens in the middle only to pick up towards the end of the second half.Also writers seem to only focus on the script when it revolves around Sly and Arnie. Peripheral characters get lost in the back ground and have nothing much to do than mumble and provide support. Between the two, Stallone seems weary and tired in the fight scenes. Also his drawl is heavier than before making it difficult to at times understand what he's saying.

What to do
Strictly made for fans of the action amigos Arnold and Stallone, Escape Plan offers you a decent time at the movies with its fast paced fight scenes and gripping story line.