I originally reviewed Escape Plan in 2014, and I wasn’t terribly forgiving. Whilst not planning on ever seeing it again, I now have! I don’t always remember which films I’ve reviewed, which got me thinking.
Sometimes I wonder if in my earlier reviews I was trying to be something I’m not; a proper movie critic. Now you could argue that there’s no such thing, especially in this day and age. But I think I was trying to be a bit hoity-toity sometimes.
Now, none of this means that I’ve done a 180 on Escape Plan. It’s still, at best, an alright Saturday night’s entertainment. Most of it still sits on the shoulders of Stallone and Schwarzenegger (which I just spelt correctly first time! High five me!).
The Last Stand was an iffy return for the Austrian Oak, but here he proves that he’s still got charisma, even if holding a machine gun looks slightly more strained now. It looks as though he’s enjoying playing the supporting role, and to be fair it suits him; he’s the best thing in this film by a mile. Stallone is pretty good too, though I wish he’d let his hair be dyed a touch more naturally like Ahnold has. Grow old somewhat gracefully Sly.
Overall the cast is surprisingly decent; Caviezel (damn, needed to Google that one) doesn’t have much to do, whilst Donofio is completely wasted. Vinnie Jones does what he does, which is be a hard man; you can’t hold that against him.
There is a twist, but I’d completely forgotten about it. If you think about it for more than five seconds it’s really obvious, but rather than roll my eyes like last time, I was quite happy to roll along with it and found it all entertaining enough.
You could pick apart the plot. But seriously, what are you expecting? They at least used some real science regarding heat and rust.
Looking back at Escape Plan I’m happy to tell younger me to can the critic nonsense and just enjoy Escape Plan for what it is.
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