TMAuthor23
Joined Feb 2019
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Reviews175
TMAuthor23's rating
In the 70's and 80's we got a lot of action series that were formula driven, predictable, and light.
Mannix, Cannon, McGyver, The Rockford Files, Magnum P. I., Knight Rider and many more.
That's what this show is. Justin Hartley, as Colter Shaw, provides the prototypical lead: tall, broad shouldered, handsome, white male.
Because this is the 2020's we have a few twists, that frankly don't add much value: he's a vagabond (he lives in a plush high tech RV) hero for hire, to right wrongs and save the vulnerable; instead of one tech specialist in a chair, he has multiple (two gay women who are awful, a black computer whiz, and an Asian legal eagle) to essentially provide magical assistance whenever the writers are stuck for a solution to their forced storylines.
There's plenty of box checking to insure every special interest group is represented.
Unfortunately, other than Hartley's charm, there isn't much here. Peripheral romantic partners? Check. Disabled assistant? Check. Gay characters? Check, check. Person of color character? Check and double check. None of which is necessarily terrible, if the writing was decent, as say in Sherlock. But it isn't. Sappy dialogue, soapy subplots, corny sentimentality and very convoluted detective plots.
Hard pass, despite the Nielsen numbers, which proves that most people will watch anything if it includes a pretty face.
Mannix, Cannon, McGyver, The Rockford Files, Magnum P. I., Knight Rider and many more.
That's what this show is. Justin Hartley, as Colter Shaw, provides the prototypical lead: tall, broad shouldered, handsome, white male.
Because this is the 2020's we have a few twists, that frankly don't add much value: he's a vagabond (he lives in a plush high tech RV) hero for hire, to right wrongs and save the vulnerable; instead of one tech specialist in a chair, he has multiple (two gay women who are awful, a black computer whiz, and an Asian legal eagle) to essentially provide magical assistance whenever the writers are stuck for a solution to their forced storylines.
There's plenty of box checking to insure every special interest group is represented.
Unfortunately, other than Hartley's charm, there isn't much here. Peripheral romantic partners? Check. Disabled assistant? Check. Gay characters? Check, check. Person of color character? Check and double check. None of which is necessarily terrible, if the writing was decent, as say in Sherlock. But it isn't. Sappy dialogue, soapy subplots, corny sentimentality and very convoluted detective plots.
Hard pass, despite the Nielsen numbers, which proves that most people will watch anything if it includes a pretty face.
Helpful•11
This movie is (hopefully) the last throes of the middling MCU.
The early MCU soared because of three things. The stories were well written, the actors they cast were top shelf, and we finally got to see our favorite characters in the flesh.
The current MCU seems to be more concerned with social issues, diversity casting (go look at Disney's splash banner for "Marvel" on their streaming service) and the same dreary storytelling that sank the DCEU. And the obsession with introducing obscure characters isn't going to bring people to the theater. An Israeli superhero? Really? Why?
Mackie, a decent actor, is not a bonafide lead actor. This movie needed a STAR to make it work. And his pale impersonation of Chris Evans doesn't work. If a black Captain America was the goal, there are better actors available. No slam on Mackie as a person, or good character actor. He just ain't "it".
The story is not terrible, but it is very predictable. And the trailers, giving away Harrison Ford's dual role as the POTUS and the Red Hulk, stole most of the firepower this movie had.
Some of the heavy lifting Mackie was forced to carry was the awful prelude Disney+ series, The Falcon And The Winter Solider. It was a slog, not improved by ham-handed black diversity storylines.
Black Panther, another black superhero franchise, succeeded initially because the star and director, and the story were all excellent. Chadwick Bozeman, Michael B Jordan, Coogler and Coogler's terrific script.
You can't do a paint by the numbers blockbuster. There are numerous bombs that demonstrated this fact (Eternals, Thor Love And Thunder, Morbius, Madame Web etc.).
The effects, are still very good. The fight scenes, almost as an apology for a weaker story, are impressive but go on too long.
How do you replace Chris Evans, RDJ, Johansson, Ruffalo, Hemsworth and a bunch of other A-List performers?
What you don't do, is try to force a bunch of B-List actors into lead roles.
Expand Florence Pugh's role, also Hailee Steinfeld, create something for Michael B. Jordan, add Tom Holland and start a new exciting chapter.
So...can't recommend...wait for it to stream.
The early MCU soared because of three things. The stories were well written, the actors they cast were top shelf, and we finally got to see our favorite characters in the flesh.
The current MCU seems to be more concerned with social issues, diversity casting (go look at Disney's splash banner for "Marvel" on their streaming service) and the same dreary storytelling that sank the DCEU. And the obsession with introducing obscure characters isn't going to bring people to the theater. An Israeli superhero? Really? Why?
Mackie, a decent actor, is not a bonafide lead actor. This movie needed a STAR to make it work. And his pale impersonation of Chris Evans doesn't work. If a black Captain America was the goal, there are better actors available. No slam on Mackie as a person, or good character actor. He just ain't "it".
The story is not terrible, but it is very predictable. And the trailers, giving away Harrison Ford's dual role as the POTUS and the Red Hulk, stole most of the firepower this movie had.
Some of the heavy lifting Mackie was forced to carry was the awful prelude Disney+ series, The Falcon And The Winter Solider. It was a slog, not improved by ham-handed black diversity storylines.
Black Panther, another black superhero franchise, succeeded initially because the star and director, and the story were all excellent. Chadwick Bozeman, Michael B Jordan, Coogler and Coogler's terrific script.
You can't do a paint by the numbers blockbuster. There are numerous bombs that demonstrated this fact (Eternals, Thor Love And Thunder, Morbius, Madame Web etc.).
The effects, are still very good. The fight scenes, almost as an apology for a weaker story, are impressive but go on too long.
How do you replace Chris Evans, RDJ, Johansson, Ruffalo, Hemsworth and a bunch of other A-List performers?
What you don't do, is try to force a bunch of B-List actors into lead roles.
Expand Florence Pugh's role, also Hailee Steinfeld, create something for Michael B. Jordan, add Tom Holland and start a new exciting chapter.
So...can't recommend...wait for it to stream.
Helpful•1910
This show is what is called "high concept". That isn't an indication of ingenious plotting or premise. What it means is that it's ultra simplistic. So simple that it's easy to sell, easy to write and easy to follow.
And, as is often the case with high concept fare, there is a massive amount of the suspension of disbelief required to digest this.
The pitch for this series is easy to dissect: just like The Black List, but from the good gal's perspective. A new supervillain every week.
An attractive female FBI profiler is the only person we can turn to in an effort to round up a bunch of terrible criminals who were held in super secret detention, and have escaped.
Didn't that happen to Superman?
And have we reached the ridiculous end of waif-like women being cast as the baddest warrior going? I hope so, because while actresses like Gina Carrano could pull that off, most can't.
The acting in this is also stiff and wooden, which often happens with actors performing in front of a green screen for the first time.
I wouldn't recommend watching this.
And, as is often the case with high concept fare, there is a massive amount of the suspension of disbelief required to digest this.
The pitch for this series is easy to dissect: just like The Black List, but from the good gal's perspective. A new supervillain every week.
An attractive female FBI profiler is the only person we can turn to in an effort to round up a bunch of terrible criminals who were held in super secret detention, and have escaped.
Didn't that happen to Superman?
And have we reached the ridiculous end of waif-like women being cast as the baddest warrior going? I hope so, because while actresses like Gina Carrano could pull that off, most can't.
The acting in this is also stiff and wooden, which often happens with actors performing in front of a green screen for the first time.
I wouldn't recommend watching this.
Helpful•146