I watched the first 5 minutes of this movie and turned it off. It was that corny.
Then I forgot that I'd done that and, stuck for something dumb to watch on a a day off sick, I spun this up again.
The movie resumed at the five minute mark and I thought what the hell. At least I don't have to watch the start again, and settled in as i was bathed in cheesy screenwriting and even sketchier acting.
Then came the reveal and I've gotta say I was delighted. The kinetic set pieces were tight and engaging and the CGI was on point. Guy Pierce pitched his bad guy perfectly against Ray's would-be villains. Ray and his supporting characters weren't deep, but they certainly weren't flat and decent acting and direction of the main cast more than made up for some of the peripheral duds.
This movie is straight-up comic-book fare, so if you come to this movie hoping for a sophisticated narrative, you'll just wind up annoying those of your friends who pegged it from the start for the lurid action-fest it is. It's certainly no Bourne Identity, but it punches way higher than the most of the critics would boorishly suggest.
Would watch again. 7/10
