James Clayton taps Vinnie Jones to headline his directorial debut, the action thriller Bullet Proof from Lionsgate. After stealing millions in cash from sadistic mob boss Temple’s (Jones) drug-dealing hideout, a thief (Clayton) finds a stowaway in his getaway car: Temple’s pregnant wife, Mia (Lina Lecompte). Desperate to reclaim his cash and his unborn son, Temple sends out a squad of hitmen and bounty hunters to bring in Mia and the thief. Speed, cleverness, and good aim give the duo a brief advantage, but how long will their luck hold out?
Cooper Bibaud, Danny Mac, and James C. Clayton collaborate to pen the film’s screenplay, which draws inspiration from Guy Ritchie’s style and seventies grindhouse films. Clayton opens the movie with a standard shoot-out that sets our plot in motion. Early on, we get the vibe that Clayton is looking to live out some of his boyhood fantasies. When considering the film’s budget, the action sequences are generally impressive. Kudos to the scriptwriters for introducing our characters, primarily Vinnie Jones, as our big bad. Granted, Jones could play a role like this in his sleep, but there’s always something uberly exciting about seeing Jones envoke fear into or use brute force.
Additionally, I was very impressed with Janvier Katabarwa, who portrays a character called The Frenchman. Katabarwa commands the screen with an intense ferocity stealing every scene he’s in. His martial arts skills, one-liver delivery, and weapons handling give us an action hero in the making. I would welcome a film where he teams up with Michael Jai White and Massari Crump.
Regarding the good guys in the film, Lina Lecompte mildly elevates her role above a typical damsel in distress. While there were a few moments where I was expecting Bullet Proof to have her character hook up with James Clayton’s character of the thief, the moment never occurs. Instead, they keep it platonic, which works in the film’s favor.
Never overstaying its welcome or taking itself too seriously, Bullet Proof only aspires to be a mindless action flick. While I doubt I’ll ever revisit the film, I can recommend it as a quick time waster.
Final Grade: C
Bullet Proof opens in Select Theaters this Friday, August 19th. In addition, the film will be available on Digital and On-Demand.
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