“Armor” shoots and misses as an enjoyable action flick

Director Justin Routt offers Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone another opportunity to explore a villainous role in his fourth directorial project, “Armor,” produced by Lionsgate. Adrian Speckert and Corey Todd Hughes have crafted the screenplay for the film.

James (Jason Patric) and his son Casey (Josh Wiggins) are armored truck drivers tasked with delivering a suspicious package. After a violent ambush on the road by a crew of thieves led by Rook (Stallone), James and Casey are trapped until they discover the value of what they have been carrying and join forces to outgun and outwit their attackers.

The subgenre of armored truck movies always hits or misses. The films usually succeed when the truck is only a tiny part of the film, as with 2021’s “Wrath of Man.” On the rare occasion that the cast is correct, you make the truck a big part of the movie and succeed as mindless popcorn as director Nimród Antal did with 2009’s “Armored.”

Sadly, “Armor” falls into the miss category. For starters, the action hero Stallone is only here to check. The actor has excelled at playing villains in movies such as “Spy Kids 3”, “Death Race 2000” and arguably “The Suicide Squad”. The character of “Rook” has a paper-thin characterization. While he is attempting to run the truck and has a moral code, the dialogue Stallone has to muster creeks of AI.

The motto “I’m only here for a check” resonates strongly with the once-promising Jason Patric, who has been relegated to the less prestigious realm of direct-to-home films for many years. In a failed attempt to add depth, the script introduces a subplot about his character being a recovering alcoholic; unfortunately, this narrative thread fails to deliver, and the emotional bonding moments shared with his son lack authenticity and impact. It’s easy to imagine a more compelling film if Stallone and Patric had swapped roles, potentially bringing out the best in each actor.

Only Dash Mihok stands out among the supporting cast, bringing some energy to his role. However, when it comes to the action sequences, viewers are met with a collection of familiar tropes; nothing here feels innovative or particularly engaging, as these elements have been executed more effectively in numerous other films. While there may still be a niche audience for “Armor,” it ultimately feels like a forgettable experience—one best avoided unless you’re a dedicated fan of the actors involved.

Final Grade: D+

ARMOR will be in Theaters, On Digital and On Demand, on November 22, 2024.