Review: 'Safe'

Film: Safe
Director: Boaz Yakin
Cast: Jason Statham, Catherine Chan and others
Rating: ***

Safe is your typical action thriller complete with gun battles and car chases. A punch here, a kick there and the world is a better place. Director Boaz Yakin knows what he is doing. He is not experimenting and I’m not complaining.

Plot: A young Chinese girl Mei (Catherine Chan), whose computer-like brain holds a precious numerical code that opens a safe containing $30 million, finds herself being followed by the Russian Mafia, a bunch of New York cops (the bad ones) and Chinese gangsters, who gave her the code in the first place. Luke Wright (Jason Statham), an ex-good cop who is really just looking to end his life after his wife dies and he runs into a spot of trouble with the Russian Mafia, takes it upon himself to save little Mei after their paths cross in a New York subway station.

Safe is not exactly winning any Oscars or changing lives but its tightly-written script teamed with some seriously impressive action choreography makes it one hell of a ride. The film is fast, gripping and the fight sequences make up for the cliched performances.

Statham delivers exactly what is expected of him. Nobody goes for a Statham flick for his great acting skills; they go to watch him kick some ass. Statham beats up the bad guys and he looks good doing it. He has his fair share of one liners and he delivers them with style. Newcomer Chan is adorable and just what her character needs to be; strong, smart, quick and witty. Together Statham and Chan make a good team.

The mafia heads on the other hand seem to be a parody; Sándor Técsy is for some reason trying to be a Godfather type figure as the Russian supremo gangster which is, let’s face it, just hilarious and James Hong … well it’s just nice to see him play something other than a Chinese restaurant owner.

Safe is exactly what it is. What you see is what you get. So all lovers of good action flicks, this is a nice way to spend your weekend.