Bullet To The Head is what I wished for whilst watching this. I couldn't help but feel like this was just an overextended episode of 'Hawaii Five-O', except the catchy theme tune was removed and the dullness was raised substantially. An officer and a hitman team up as they investigate a double crossing that consequently left the hitman's partner dead. I shan't lie, it took me about five minutes to write that plot synopsis. I've instantly forgotten about the entire story already. Corrupt officers, dirty money, a flash drive containing bank account details and a few fist fights. It is so generic, that I'm surprised this wasn't a straight-to-DVD release. Stallone might be back, but no one can understand him as he mumbles his way through a painstakingly boring script that attempts to give his character some personality. "What are we, vikings?". Hang on, was that humour? But no, he is just another typical "shoot now, ask questions later" muscle tank that has more visible veins in his arms than a throbbing...well, you get the picture. Mamoa was the surprise here, and actually looked like he had fun whilst heavily frowning. Although, can I just say, Mamoa would've obliterated Stallone in that concluding axe fight. No question. A scene or two held my attention, particularly the flash drive negotiation, but for the most part I was waiting for this predictable flick to end. The infrequent action was plagued with, a personal favourite of mine, quick cuts. Oh yes, they are back with a vengeance! Perhaps every half a second the camera angle would change, diminishing the brutality of Stallone's fist smashing a criminal's jaw. No one can see anything! It's just a blur! The scene transitions comprised of panning around skyscrapers or woodland environments, emphasising the TV aesthetic appeal that felt odd for an 18 rated film. Yes there are plenty of bullets to the head, which I'm sure will keep some viewers occupied. However the predictably generic snooze-inducing plot will leave many wanting to revisit the classic 80s action flicks that this film attempts to hark back to.
