Netflix’s latest action-packed blockbuster, War Machine, sees Reacher star Alan Ritchson lead a batch of soldiers into a deadly fight against a towering robotic assailant. The result is a more than solid effort that lets the intensity and wild fun of the action overshadow a fairly so-so story.
War Machine follows an older military vet (Ritchson) who’s determined to make the cut for the Army Rangers in honor of his fallen brother (Jai Courtney). However, while he proves himself as a top candidate amongst younger competition, he’s put to the ultimate test when his group is suddenly attacked by a strange alien war machine. Given director Patrick Hughes’s background with the comedy-forward action of The Hitman’s Bodyguard films, it’s surprising how richly tense the first act of War Machine is. While there’s some good warmth stemming from the bond Ritchson and Courtney establish, the film quickly turns towards an unmistakable darkness that fuels the action and energy that follows. Ritchson’s performance becomes filled with quiet rage and a determination for success. The early tastes of action are shockingly bloody and visceral. And, it all builds into a training montage that’s driven by the adrenaline of Ritchson’s character and the intense atmosphere of the Army Rangers searching for their next best soldiers. Frankly, it’s an awesome place to start, and Ritchson’s performance is a great centerpiece to it all.
For countless years, people have been craving a new generation of action heroes like we had in the ’80s. That new Stallone or Schwarzenegger if you will. With War Machine, Ritchson makes a case to be that next great action hero, delivering a standout performance in an already noteworthy resume. He’s got the screen presence of someone who’s jarringly tough, capable of facing any challenge thrown his way, and carries a voice worthy of falling into battle for. The emotional beats surrounding what his character’s lost give Ritchson’s performance a vulnerability that breaks through the overt toughness he presents. And, there are some great moments of him truly carrying this story with a gutting desperation for redemption that gives his actions real weight. It’s some great work from Ritchson that shines alongside the wildly gory bloodshed we get once the group engages the mechanical monster.
On paper, War Machine would seem like the kind of action flick that tones down the blood for a more inclusive rating—especially given its streaming status. But thankfully, that’s not the case at all, since the titular alien tech causes some eye-popping gore to streak all over this film. This machine holds nothing back in absolutely eviscerating these soldiers and the gore is cranked up all the way. People are literally being blown apart with a single laser cannon shot, and it creates this cold, sudden tone that’s absolutely chilling. Every bout with the machine is more brutal than the last, and the visuals are remarkably strong for such a small-feeling film. It’s a great way to build up the giant robot as a legitimate threat and something worth fearing every time it appears. The design is also incredible, as it feels like this towering monster that’s dropped straight out of Helldivers or something.
Unfortunately, War Machine misses the mark on having a strong story to go alongside its superior parts. While Ritchson and the action generally keep things afloat, the narrative barely has any meat on its bones. It can be fun and exciting to watch these soldiers survive and fight against this automaton, especially when they get some real firepower in their hands. However, it’s clearly leaning on familiar elements of the Predator series to get by. The feel of this film hits the same survival notes without any of the depth or fun of the series’ characters or relationships. With most of War Machine‘s characters having numbers for names, including the main character, and showing no memorable personalities or traits, it’s tough to connect with anyone outside of Ritchson in this group. Honestly, most of them just end up as cannon fodder anyway, and come with dialogue that’s got no juice behind it. The story, overall, is fairly thin, “Point A to Point B” stuff that gets the job done and nothing more. It’s basically as one-note as an action plot can be. It’s why the film’s ending lacks a distinctive punch, and the set-up for something bigger isn’t as earned because the lead-up is too hollow.
War Machine has the goods for a stellar action experience: a great lead, action gore hounds will drool over and an automaton threat that’s pretty damn cool. Yet, it’s held back by a weak narrative that keeps the film from being anything more than a supremely solid watch.
