Interceptor (2022)

When you come to a movie that calls itself an action flick, you don't expect to be lectured on feminism and toxic masculinity. Well, after starting off well enough that's precisely where Interceptor takes you. Its got plot holes galore but its entertaining enough at first, until it starts finger wagging. Get the message entertainment industry, I don't come to a film to be lectured, I want to be entertained. Simple as that.

The premise, as an elevator pitch, might have worked. With some research, a good script, and some solid acting and direction, this might have been a good, entertaining action flick. But it isn't. No-one bothered to do a tiny bit of research to make the scenario, the tech, the military babble or insignias at least somewhat OK-ish. The CGI is a the level YT kids do these days, and the story is threadbare recycled fare. Plus, as some complained, too much "woke BS" - I intended to go along with some plot elements at first, but it's so coarsely piled on, it becomes unbearable. And don't get me started on the "acting". As audience, we are making a deal with the moviemakers. We provide some suspension of disbelief, accept some bits that aren't realistic, and they put in some effort to accommodate us in this regard. Unless they are lazy as in this case. Then it becomes insulting how little they think of us. Action stars don't need to have real acting chops; if they do, it is a very welcome addition, and can mean actual stardom. But the least we can expect is Expendables-level effort. There is still a niche for old-fashioned save-the-world-action flicks, I'm sure of that. But stuff like this is just a crappy waste of viewer's time. 2 of 10, 1 of which for the director as an encouragement that your first failure doesn't have to mean an entirely failed career. Try again! Everybody else: please don't do another thing like this, even if it is a favour for your wife.

**Interceptor isn't great, but it's a low-budget action movie meant to stream. It's lame but has some fun 80s-type action moments too.** People need to go easier on Interceptor. Is it a great movie? No. But it's precisely what I expect from a straight-to-stream Netflix action movie. I have seen worse stuff out there. Elsa Pataky was clearly committed to the role and was ripped to play the part. The story was the typical Under Siege\The Rock plot with a bunch of bad guys taking over something and a lone hero saving the day. Even though it's been done a million times, what's not to love about it? Interceptor is forgettable, but if you love action movies, why not?