Sans issue

I thought Owen Wilson was excellent in this movie. It was very suspenseful and really did keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Pretty graphic I must say, which is the only reason I did not give it a 9 or 10, but well written with an excellent plot. Going in I was a little apprehensive as to how good Owen Wilson was going to be in an "action" movie but he did not disappoint. A tad unbelievable given his build and stature as to what he was able to do from a physical standpoint in the movie but still kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. All in all I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who likes action and suspense.

My husband and I are big into movies of all genres and appreciate quality. We loved this movie. It was very intense/stressful with suspense from beginning to end. It speaks to what parents/family would do for each other. We had never seen Owen Wilson in a role like this, but thought he and Lake Bell did a phenomenal job! Believable performances by all. Even the kids did great. This movie is very underrated!

While the film isn't based on a true story, it is based on what the brothers/writers found playing out in their heads in 2014 when, while on a plane to Thailand, they learned of the coup against Thailand's newly elected officials and imagined what could have gone wrong.

One of the earlier reviews says this film isn't political but is there another way to see it? Here, in 2025, one might point out that the realism could be, well, sobering to anyone who still believes in unsecured borders or democratic socialism. While Vietnam isn't a vacation destination, I couldn't help but be moved by the power of military at their border (at least in this film) and the snap decision made to give harbor to the desperate family.

The film itself was well done. Acting was impressive, most of the videography was commendable, the music appropriately supported the scenes. It moves fast and simply never stops until the credits role (almost) making it an intense , entertaining watch Owen is a seasoned actor. Lake is apparently well known in the industry. The kids were believable. Pierce, though not my cup of tea, displays his expert acting ability.

But Owen just never sold the part for me, although he, admittedly, acted his butt off. I see why they thought he would be an ideal run of the mill, non-descript middle-management American yet his looks and mannerism are just so unique and it's hard to see him trying to be so serious and common.

But once you get around that and accept that the entire film is centered on having kids in tow, you can just enjoy the ride.

To their credit, the writers didn't have the kids become problematic -outside of the fact they naturally made escape more complicated - and really focuses on the love of family and the lengths we would go for them.

There were plenty of oh-come-on moments as this excessively lucky family kept evading their pursuers and appearing bullet proof.

If this were written today, it might be someone trying to demonstrate the purpose of a strong border and what seeking asylum really looks like.

I'm not sure if there's a message here other than 'always keep a Go-bag, & don't give up your guns.' But I think what the writers wanted it to be about was how an unexpected hero is in each of us under the right circumstances.

I walked into this movie with very low expectations and I was tired. This movie stars Owen Wilson in an Action/Thriller...not a comedy. That's not saying his comedies are that great, either. But this film wow-ed me. I literally said, "wow" out loud in the theater.

The start of the movie was very captivating. Enough action was in before the titles even came on, then unexpected humor. Kenny Rogers even showed up (not really, but you'll see what I mean)! Overall, Owen Wilson and his family are placed in extremely difficult situations to which it seems that there is little to no escape. The plot alone deserves at least a 4.5 of 5 stars. Coupled with the 5 star acting of not only Wilson, but the children! These kids were absolutely astounding and very convincing! Even Pierce Brosnan was a wonderful addition to the movie, with his excellent comedic timing. I will say that the comedy's placement messed with me because the movie was that stressful. Perhaps the only issue I had was the ending. It just could have been better writing. Direction and acting get 5 stars from me, and the soundtrack about a 4 for its excellent suspense addition. I did not expect this movie to be great, but I had trouble getting to sleep afterwards because I was so stressed out! This movie deserves at least a 4.5 of 5 stars! I would pay to see this movie!

A good story, well told is how I would describe this above-average American thriller that actually manages a certain level of intensity and momentum, two qualities I always look out for in my movies. It's a simple action thriller with a focus on movement and escape, as an American family visiting an unnamed south-east Asian country find themselves caught up in a coup and must literally flee for their lives.

The reason NO ESCAPE is so effective is because the storyline is a believable one. There's a decent sense of realism built up from the outset and just enough time given to develop the characters before throwing them into the deep end. I admit I was a bit nonplussed about the casting of Owen Wilson, but he was acceptable as the lead just as he was in the non-comedy BEHIND ENEMY LINES all those years ago. The rest of the cast have little to work with, but Pierce Brosnan brings a wry humour as the British tourist the family hook up with at their hotel.

The thriller sequences set in and around the hotel are by far the best bit of this film; they're edge of the seat stuff, with great cinematography to boost the action. After this point, the film drops down a notch and is never quite as thrilling; plus, I always dislike action set at night, because you can never see properly what's going on. Still, the hotel scenes alone are enough to make this a worthwhile watch.