Imagine uprooting your family to an unfamiliar country on the very same day that a disturbingly violent political uprising takes place.
That’s the situation facing Jack Dwyer (Owen Wilson – Wedding Crashers) in director/co-writer John Erick Dowdle’s (Quarantine) thriller No Escape.
Whatever its shortcomings – and it has quite a few – No Escape will at least resonate with most viewers on at least one level.
We meet the Dwyers in much safer circumstances, as they make the lengthy trip from Texas to an un-named Southeast Asian country (all we’re told is that it has a border with Vietnam).
Jack has been relocated by his company to work on a project that will bring clean drinking water to the country, meaning wife Annie (Lake Bell – Man Up) and two daughters Lucy (Sterling Jerins) and Beeze (Claire Geare) are coming along for the ride.
A meeting with street savvy Hammond (former James Bond Piers Brosnan) sees them safely reach their hotel, but the very next day Jack gets caught slap bang in the middle of a shoot-out.
And, with all foreigners (and plenty of natives, too) being executed on sight, he races back to protect his family. To make matters worse for Jack, his face is literally plastered on a “welcome” poster at his hotel – meaning the gunmen are baying for his blood.
What follows is a pretty gut-churning race for survival, with the Dwyers putting their lives on the line in a bid to escape what has pretty much become a warzone. It’s tense stuff – although I couldn’t quite decide whether it crossed the line into cheesy territory.
What I do know if that the story is sadly one-sided.
I wanted to know a little bit more about why the natives became savages overnight.
We’re given a brief reason, but I’m not sure I totally buy their loss of humanity.
That’s not to say there aren’t great moments in No Escape. I did genuinely have my heart in my mouth at times, especially during a scene when the Dwyers had to cross from one rooftop to another.
Wilson and Bell – both better known for comedic roles – are actually very good as shell-shocked parents in the worst-possible scenario.
Other than Behind Enemy Lines, I can’t actually remember Wilson performing such a serious role. It suits him too, much better than his endless list of rom-coms.
I enjoyed Brosnan’s performance, too. He steals pretty much every scene he’s in – making the fact he’s not in all that many a real shame.
As touched upon above, the natives aren’t fleshed out at all either. It’s a shame, as it paints the Americans as the good guys when the actual reasons behind the uprising pretty much lie at their nation’s door.
It’s a shame, as with a bit more perspective I reckon No Escape had the potential to be great thriller.
As it is, it’s more in the “worth a watch” category.
Voice Verdict: 7/10
+ Will resonate with everyone
+ Wilson/Bell shine
+ Superbly tense
– A little cheesy
– No perspective
SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Sept 11 to Thurs, Sept 17)
**LEGEND (18)
Noon (Sat/Sun/Wed), 2.45pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.40pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)
**THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRAILS 3D (12A)
Noon (Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.30pm (daily)
**THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRAILS 2D (12A)
2.45pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 8.20pm (daily)
**THE VISIT (15)
2pm (Fri/Wed), 4.20pm (not Tues/Thurs), 6.15pm (Tues), 6.30pm (not Tues), 8.45pm (daily)
**ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING (12A)
10am (Sat/Sun), 2pm (Wed)
RICKI AND THE FLASH (12A)
1.30pm (Wed), 4pm (not Sat/Sun)
TRANSPORTER REFUELLED (15)
4.20pm (Tues/Thurs), 6.10pm (not Tues/Thurs)
NO ESCAPE (15)
6.15pm (Tues), 6.30pm (not Tues), 8.45pm (not Tues/Thurs)
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (15)
8.15pm (daily)
INSIDE OUT 2D (U)
Noon (Sat/Sun), 4.30pm (daily)
INSIDE OUT 3D (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), 2.15pm (Sat/Sun)
PIXELS 2D (12A)
12.25pm (Sat/Sun), 2.45pm (Sat/Sun)
MINIONS 2D (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), 2.15pm (Sat/Sun)
KIDS’ CLUB
Sat/Sun 10.30am – Penguins Of Madagascar (U)
SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Absolutely Anything (12A)
** FREE LIST SUSPENDED
