Category: Action

The Naked Gun (2025) Film Review

Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jr becomes a police officer like his legendary father and must save the police department from shutting down by solving a case.

The Naked Gun is directed by Akiva Schaffer director of Hot Rod (2007), The Watch (2012), Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) and Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022). This film serves as a legacy sequel to Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) and is the fourth film of the Naked Gun franchise. 

One of the hardest genres to tackle is the comedy genre, if your comedic timing is just a bit off that can potentially sink the whole ship. You also have to consider whether or not the material you are working with/creating is genuinely funny. A major problem with a lot of studio comedies from the last several years is a lot of them tell almost the exact same jokes, the jokes themselves aren’t very clever and the comedic timing is dreadful. A lot of studio comedies focus more on cramming in as many unfunny jokes as possible which sacrifices just about everything else that goes into making a great comedy. 

This is exactly why The Naked Gun is a huge breath of fresh air, it’s a rare studio comedy that understands how to be funny, even when not every single joke lands you can still feel the writers were very passionate behind said joke. The film’s story is simple yes but the way the humor is integrated into the story is incredibly charming and ends up being such a fun and hilarious ride from beginning to end. 

This film reminds you of how great Liam Neeson is at comedy, there’s also a strong argument to be made that this is one of Neeson’s best performances in years. Neeson completely makes the film, his comedic timing is clever and his interactions with the rest of the cast are filled with fun and hilarious moments that you can’t help but love. Neeson also does a brilliant job as Frank Drebin Jr. he’s not trying to be a direct copy of Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen’s character) he’s borrowing a few elements while also making this new character different. 

Pamela Anderson is fantastic here as well, Anderson has fantastic chemistry with Liam Neeson and is genuinely hilarious in her own right, a fantastic femme fatale type of performance that captures the atmosphere the film is going for. It blends so well together with the spoof nature of the film and even feels earnest at times as well that brings you into the film’s story. Something that both Neeson and Anderson do incredibly well is they capture the silly nature of the film and their conversations only show that in such shining detail that is bound to make the viewer laugh. 

The writing is quite clever, I said at the beginning that comedic timing is incredibly important and luckily that’s what this film has. The film’s main goal here is to make the viewer laugh and it does that incredibly well, there’s a wide range of jokes even if you don’t laugh at one joke you could laugh at the next one. Some of the film’s best moments is when the characters take expressions literally, it’s simple yet incredibly effective due to the direction from Akiva Schaffer being filled with personality. 

The spoof movie atmosphere is also incredibly charming, it never feels cheap or lame. There’s always this sense of passion from the writers and Schaffer, something we hardly ever see in these sort of movies anymore. There characters feel incredibly fitting in the film’s world, the character writing might be straightforward but the way the film goes about developing these characters is what makes it work and quite hilarious as well. There’s a lot of attention to detail when it comes to the humor, the facial expressions of the characters and the comedic timing. It all combines together in this nice little package that never fails to make the viewer laugh. 

Overall The Naked Gun is an incredibly fun film that knows its goal and accomplishes it well. The film has this warmth and playfulness that you just don’t see in a lot of studio comedies nowadays, if you haven’t seen this one I recommend giving this a go.

The Naked Gun is available on all VOD platforms.

8/10 B+

Nobody 2 (2025) Film Review

Workaholic assassin Hutch Mansell takes his family on a much-needed vacation to the small tourist town of Plummerville. However, he soon finds himself in the crosshairs of a corrupt theme-park operator, a shady sheriff, and a bloodthirsty crime boss.

Nobody 2 is directed by Timo Tjahjanto director of May the Devil Take You (2018), The Night Comes for Us (2018), May the Devil Take You Too (2020), The Big 4 (2022) and The Shadow Strays (2024). Nobody 2 serves as a sequel to Nobody (2021). 

When I saw that Timo Tjahjanto was taking over directing duties for Nobody 2 I was pretty excited, Tjahjanto has consistently put out great work and is definitely one of the most engaging action film directors currently working. So it is quite disappointing to see that Nobody 2 doesn’t quite reach the highs of its predecessor, granted it is definitely not a bad movie at all. It’s an entertaining ride from beginning to end but that’s really all it is, there isn’t an added flavor here that helps the movie stand out on its own unfortunately. 

Bob Odenkirk as Hutch Mansell is just as great as he was in the first film, he once again knocks it out of the park with the action scenes and delivers some charming dialogue and interactions with his family. These moments are not anything special mind you but they are sweet and give the movie some sort of emotional core. Connie Nielsen has strong chemistry with Bob Odenkirk, which makes for some strong moments between the two. 

The action is once again quite great, although Tjahjanto isn’t able to fully go all out like he usually does with the action scenes. They are still very entertaining, seeing Bob Odenkirk just completely wreck so many henchmen is more than satisfying enough to forgive the movie’s very standard plot. The movie’s vacation theme makes for a good background for these action scenes, the fight choreography is fun and the action scenes in general are well filmed. 

Honestly the biggest problem with Nobody 2 is it really doesn’t add anything and ultimately feels like a lesser version of its predecessor. The writing is not terrible, but it’s far less exciting and thrilling. Nobody 2 goes in the direction you think it’s going to go, which is not always a bad thing but when you come off of such a fun and clever first film it’s very disappointing to see such a step down. 

Despite that however I still do think Nobody 2 is a fun time, it’s not something you would probably ever revisit again. But thanks to the performances and the well done action scenes I would at least recommend this one if you liked the first film even if it’s a lesser version of that film. 

Nobody 2 is available on all VOD platforms.

6/10 C+

Aztec Batman: Clash Of Empires (2025) Film Review

the time of the Aztec Empire, Yohualli Coatl – a young Aztec boy – experiences tragedy when his father and village leader, Toltecatzin, is murdered by Spanish Conquistadors. Yohualli escapes to Tenochtitlan to warn King Moctezuma and his high priest, Yoka, of imminent danger. Using the temple of Tzinacan, the bat god, as a lair, Yohualli trains with his mentor and assistant, Acatzin, developing equipment and weaponry to confront the Spaniard invasion, protect Moctezuma’s temple, and avenge his father’s death.

Aztec Batman: Clash Of Empires is directed by Juan Meza-León which is his directorial debut. 

Another take on Batman and a take that I’m not entirely sure really worked even after watching, admittedly it is a unique take on the Batman mythology but that’s quite honestly the only thing that stands out.

The voice acting is at least decent and makes for some engaging moments, even if the characters are a bit on the bland side of things. There were attempts at different spins on certain characters such as Two-Face and The Joker, some spins are definitely more elaborate and detailed than others, but none of them are incredibly noteworthy. Two-Face definitely gets the bigger end of the stick as he’s a huge part of the film and actually done decently, The Joker feels more of an afterthought (the movie sets up for a sequel.)

The writing is a mixed bag, on one hand you have some solid interactions between Batman and Acatzin and Batman with Catwoman, but on the other you have a story that despite having a unique setting often feels like you have seen this before. A lot of the familiar beats from these DC animated films are present here and unfortunately hurt the story in the long run. The story itself has its moments which mainly come from the voice cast trying their absolute hardest to sell the movie to the viewer, but a lot of the time it’s painfully predictable and fails to give some of these characters the writing they need to standout. 

Finally there’s the animation which mostly works, it takes a bit to get used to since admittedly it is a step down from other DC animated films. But it’s really not all that bad, the best thing you can say about it is that it’s unique and whereas the writing fails to really take advantage of the setting, the animation at the very least steps up to the plate and works with what’s available. There might not be any jaw dropping moments with the animation, but it’s consistent and gets the job done. 

Overall despite a unique setting Aztec Batman: Clash Of Empires is very bland and doesn’t really offer anything exciting. There is moments of promise, but those are quickly overtaken by more forgettable ones and a bland story that feels very thrown together. 

Aztec Batman: Clash Of Empires is available on all VOD platforms.

4/10 D+

Red Sonja (2025) Film Review

Captured, chained and forced to fight for survival, Red Sonja must battle her way through the blood-soaked pits of a tyrant’s empire while rallying an army of outcasts to reclaim her freedom and take down Dragan and his ruthless bride, Dark Annisia.

Red Sonja is directed by M.J. Bassett director of Deathwatch (2002), Wilderness (2006), Solomon Kane (2009), Silent Hill Revelation (2012), Inside Man: Most Wanted (2019) and Endangered Species (2021). 

Since 2008 there has been several attempts at trying to make a second Red Sonja film, the 1985 Red Sonja was the very definition of an 80s fantasy movie that was quite honestly never good to begin with. Despite bombing at the box office and getting torn to shreds critically, a second Red Sonja film was released. 

While I do think this one is actually better in a few ways than the 1985 one, that is really not saying a whole lot. I absolutely admire the attempt by M.J. Bassett to try and take a very 80s fantasy film and figure out how to make it work in 2025 even if the attempt is ultimately a misfire. 

The best part about Red Sonja is Matilda Lutz, she does the best she can with such a very weak script but still ends up giving a better performance than Brigitte Neilson did in the 1985 film. Lutz just gives a more convincing performance as Red Sonja and goes for a more quiet yet effective approach that ultimately fares better in the end. The acting overall is a step up from the 1985 movie, while a bit goofy at times the supporting cast the very least this time around offer some entertainment during the movie’s more drawn out parts. 

The 1985 movie is better when it comes to technical aspects that’s mainly due to a higher budget which is something this version does not have and is very evident almost immediately. While the cinematography, production design and such aren’t awful, they very clearly worked with what they could do it unfortunately does take the viewer out of the movie during certain moments. With a higher budget I think M.J. Bassett could have actually done a lot more here to give the movie’s world more life and perhaps may have resulted in a more focused and imaginative experience. 

The movie’s world feels very empty and just does not have a whole lot of personality, which leads into the main problem with this version of Red Sonja….the writing. This movie is not much different than your bad early 2000s fantasy movie, it’s very reminiscent of films like Eragon (2006) or Dungeons & Dragons (2000s) a collection of fantasy elements that ultimately don’t add up into anything new or special. The villain Emperor Dragan the Magnificent is a very nothing villain despite a somewhat entertaining performance from Robert Sheehan. 

It’s admirable what M.J. Bassett was trying to go for here with Red Sonja. But unfortunately the technical aspects combined with the bland fantasy tropes really hold this one back from being great.

Red Sonja is available on all VOD platforms.

4/10 D+

Eenie Meanie (2025) Film Review

A reformed teenage getaway driver is dragged back into her unsavoury past when a former employer offers her an opportunity to save the life of her chronically unreliable ex-boyfriend.

Eenie Meanie is directed by Shawn Simmons which is his directorial debut. 

Eenie Meanie is a movie I appreciate more than I like it, don’t get me wrong I still think it’s a fun time and it’s a decent movie to put on. But Simmons tackling a Baby Driver (2017) sort of approach with his directorial debut is an interesting move that partly works! 

The acting is pretty solid here, Samara Weaving is always fun to see and here is no exception. This might not be one of my favorite performances of hers but she is so much fun here and it’s admittedly different from what she usually does. Karl Glusman, Steve Zahn and Marshawn Lynch are all pretty great here as well, they are fun in their own right even if their characters leave a lot to be desired in the character writing department. 

The action scenes are what makes the film, incredibly high of energy and they capture the atmosphere the movie is going for. The car chase scenes are a whole lot of fun and give the film’s world more flavor, they aren’t anything we have not seen before but they are filled to the brim with style and capture this grindhouse movie feel that does make them standout a bit. 

The atmosphere of the film has this 70s and classic B-movie feel, it’s something that remains consistent throughout the film and captures a lot of the fun nature that B-movies typically have. 

The main problem comes in with most of the character writing, while there are some decently heartfelt scenes towards the end that are actually quite touching. A majority of the film does not have that and it becomes a bit of a too little too late sort of situation. I still recommend giving this one a go if you are just looking for a blast, just don’t expect any spectacular character work. 

Eenie Meanie is available on Hulu 

6/10 C+

Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025) Film Review

Zora Bennett leads a team of skilled operatives to the most dangerous place on Earth, an island research facility for the original Jurassic Park. Their mission is to secure genetic material from dinosaurs whose DNA can provide life-saving benefits to mankind. As the top-secret expedition becomes more and more risky, they soon make a sinister, shocking discovery that’s been hidden from the world for decades.

Jurassic World: Rebirth is directed by Gareth Edwards director of Monsters (2010), Godzilla (2014), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and The Creator (2023). The film takes place three years after Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) and serves as the fourth installment in the Jurassic World series as well as being the seventh installment overall in the Jurassic Park series. 

I had some sort of hope that Gareth Edwards could turn the ship around with the Jurassic Park franchise, a franchise that has been struggling in terms of quality for years now. While this movie is a lot better than Fallen Kingdom and Dominion that’s hardly anything worth celebrating, as Rebirth has a ton of issues of its own that completely stop this movie from being any good. 

The cast does the best they can with such a bland script that gives them characters who are about as interesting as cardboard cutouts. Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey are all very talented actors who do have a few scenes here that work. But unfortunately most of them are heavily affected by the script that does not give them anything investing to do. I get the audience of these films mostly care about the dinosaurs but when you have your characters reduced to flip notes that are instantly forgettable after watching that becomes a huge problem. 

The only real positives here are some of the dinosaurs, solid visuals and the camerawork. The camerawork does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to moving the story along mainly due to the lack of an investing script, the dinosaurs are admittedly pretty neat and it’s nice to see them in action during some of the movie’s surprisingly decent action scenes. But those can only get you so far because soon after you are reminded of how bland everything else really is. 

The movie tries to recapture what made the first Jurassic Park so magical and large in scale, they even try to flat out recreate these scenes but of course they don’t match the original. Instead they feel like half baked attempts of trying to recreate it only because they will get people pointing their finger at the screen and saying “Oh I know that scene it’s like from the very first film!” it’s painfully obvious what they were doing here and as you probably have guessed it completely misses. When it comes to scale there’s moments where Gareth Edwards works his magic, even in Edwards’s weaker films he is always bring this large in scale feel which is present throughout this movie. But like most of the movie, the writing really holds it back from potentially having these beautiful moments. 

Finally there’s the writing which is the main culprit of why this movie just doesn’t come together, it’s very much a below average adventure movie with dinosaurs. If the Jurassic Park or World name wasn’t on it this would have been ignored. The characters are cliched with very little going on development wise, the story is generic and has no stakes at all. The movie wants to brand itself as this new experience for the franchise yet it desperately tries to do what the first Jurassic Park did. 

Overall there really isn’t much more to say about Jurassic World: Rebirth this might entertain some viewers and I guess it’s an improvement over the last two films but is that really anything worth celebrating? 

Jurassic World: Rebirth is available on all VOD platforms.

4/10 D+

Superman (2025) Film Review

Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned.

Superman is directed by James Gunn director of Slither (2006), Super (2010), The Guardians Of The Galaxy Trilogy and The Suicide Squad (2021). Superman serves as the first film in the new DC Universe and as a reboot of the Superman franchise

I’ve said before in the past (at least I think I did) that I was never personally a Superman fan, outside of the first two Christopher Reeves films and the Superman animated series that came out in the 90s (which you should absolutely watch if you haven’t it’s such a fun series.) I was never that invested into Superman…with that being said I am absolutely amazed by Superman (2025).

It’s absolutely no surprise that Superman is high in quality given that this is yet again James Gunn showing he knows his talent for directing incredibly well done comic book films, much like he did with The Guardians Of The Galaxy movies (2014-2023) and The Suicide Squad (2021) not only does he put excellent action in the film but he captures so many important themes of Superman that has been missing from a lot of these other films for quite a while now. 

The major part of what makes Superman so excellent is the cast, whether they play a major role or a small role they all feel like a natural fit into the film’s world. For starters David Corenswet embodies the role of Superman, whether he’s fighting the villains of the film or in more quiet scenes with the many characters of the film. There’s always this kind, empathetic and vulnerable person we see when we look at Superman or Clark Kent, this debunks the idea of Superman being this perfect and unstoppable person. There’s so much heart that Corenswet gives to his portrayal to the character that it even captures a lot of what made Christopher Reeves’s Superman so iconic, his chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan (who plays Lois Lane) is some of the best moments of the film, the conversations they have with another feel surprisingly grounded and we see Clark Kent open up about how he feels about being Superman, what it takes and how much it affects him. Corenswet masterfully captures all of these moments so well and so earnestly that this ends up being one of the best performances in a comic book film in recent memory. 

Rachel Brosnahan is also quite fantastic here, when it comes to portrayals of Lois Lane there’s an argument to be made that she’s the absolute best. I’ve said before that the chemistry between her and Corenswet is absolutely beautiful, but her interactions with the rest of the characters are a lot of fun as well. The film starts with Clark Kent and Lois Lane already dating, for some that might be rushing into things but I think that works here. Mainly due to how it’s talked about and acted during one of the film’s first scenes. We can almost immediately gather that the two really care for each other and the chemistry is just oozing out of the screen. Her portrayal of Lois Lane determined to find the truth is also fantastic and leads to some of her best moments throughout the film. 

Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor is quite possibly the best portrayal of the character, he captures the incredibly unhinged parts of what makes Lex Luthor such a fantastic villain. He’s both comically evil and genuinely terrifying mainly because he believes every single word he’s saying and believes every action he is taking is justified, we especially see this towards the end where his determination to destroy Superman goes from already being an obsession to downright psychotic. Hoult captures all of this so wonderfully in this incredible performance that ends up being one of the best takes on a comic book villain in recent memory. His interactions with Superman are filled to the brim with destruction and desire that we see how much more corrupted he really gets. 

The rest of the performances are fantastic, The Justice Gang which consists of Michael Holt/Mister Terrific (played by Edi Gathegi), Guy Gardner/Green Lantern played by Nathan Fillion) this is one of the many versions of the Green Lantern this universe is going to have) and finally Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (played by Isabela Merced) are all a lot of fun here. Merced does not get a whole lot of scenes but it’s a nice introduction to Hawkgirl as a character and Merced still delivers. Nathan Fillion gets some great moments as well and his interactions with the rest of the group and even Superman have some genuinely funny moments, there’s a moment towards the end while short does a great job of capturing his character. Edi Gathegi gives such a neat performance as Mister Terrific, he’s given the most to do in the group and especially gets one particular moment that is one of the film’s best. It’s very much like some scenes from The Guardians Of The Galaxy trilogy but still manages to be incredibly fun especially combined with the song choice, camerawork and the attention to detail with the action. 

Speaking of which the action is quite exciting, it really captures the whole Superman vibe especially with the cinematography from Henry Braham, while there might be a few silly shots they actually do fit with the film’s world and they most certainly do not take away from the world building of the cinematography. While Metropolis is not given straightforward world building development it is through the cinematography and it’s citizens, as the viewer when you look around you realize that the film is large in scale and that’s reflected through the action scenes and cinematography. It’s not closed off or limited the film wants you to explore, it’s incredibly fascinating and even quite beautiful at times. 

Finally there’s the writing and the themes of the film that are genuinely beautiful, the character development that goes on with Clark Kent, Lois Lane and many of the other characters really feels natural. There’s a few particular moments here that really highlight this, one of them being the conversation Clark has with his parents Pa Kent (played by Pruitt Taylor Vince) and Ma Kent (played by Neva Howell) it’s such a touching scene that really does capture a lot of the heart of the film and even Superman as a character, it helps that the acting in this particular moment is especially fantastic. Ma and Pa Kent are down to earth, humble and care for their son Clark, they are proud of Clark yet are still worried about him. Even if Clark might be one of the planet’s strongest they see that he still needs to understand that he is loved, this is a very real take on parenthood even if it’s only for this scene it’s still incredibly impactful.

The themes of what makes being a hero and the people believing in Superman even when things are dire is captured so beautifully here. There’s one particular scene where Raising The Flag (one of the film’s many great tracks) is played, it’s the song from the first trailer and it perfectly fits here. From the people chanting Superman, to the booming and quiet moments of the song. It’s a beautiful and powerful representation of who Superman is and why so many people love him both in the film’s world and our world, it’s the theme of a hero determined to help the people because it’s the right thing to do. He does not expect anything in return he just does it because it’s bravery and his actions saves lives. 

Overall Superman is one of the best films of the year, this is quite a fantastic way to start off the new DC universe. If this is the quality that a lot of these upcoming projects will showcase then I am very excited to see what happens next. 

Superman is currently in theaters. 

10/10 A+

KPop Demon Hunters (2025) Film Review

A world-renowned K-Pop girl group balance their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as demon hunters.

KPop Demon Hunters is directed by Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang! Appelhans previously directed Wish Dragon (2021) and this being Maggie Kang’s directorial debut! 

KPop Demon Hunters is the biggest surprise so far this year, this was a film I was not originally going to watch mainly due to my huge lack of knowledge of K-Pop as a genre of music. I only really know the more mainstream groups and that’s about where my knowledge ends, luckily for people not super into the genre like myself you do not need to be that knowledgeable to jump right into this film. It incorporates elements of the genre while also focusing on being just an overall fantastic film that has so much going for it and even more to really love. 

Right off the bat, the voice cast is brilliant the main three characters we follow Rumi, Mira and Zoey almost immediately are filled with charm when they are introduced. The voice acting from Adren Cho, May Hong and Ji-young Yoo is beautifully done, all three have this natural chemistry that you feel from their words and emotions. There’s so much fun dynamics, banter and even character moments shared between the three, it all meshes into this beautifully told story that really captivates the viewer due to the attention to detail that goes into the character designs. Ahn Hyo-seop who voices Jinu is also quite fantastic as well, his moments with Rumi are some of the film’s best that help push the film forward as well as bring out the film’s themes. 

The animation is absolutely gorgeous, there’s a lot of attention to detail here that not only went towards the character designs but also the background, the film’s world and the overall atmosphere. There is so much to explore in this world with tons of fun moments during the song sequences, it’s electrifying and never leaves the viewer with a dull moment. The film’s background also tells the story as well, when the foreground is not exactly busy there is always something going on in the background whether it’s fun character movements or just beautifully done animation. 

The music is well done and does a great job of translating this style of music to the film, Golden, Free, Takedown and How it’s Done are some of the film’s standouts although the whole track list is quite great. Each of the songs has its own personality and flavor to them that keeps things incredibly fresh throughout the film. The song sequences are also beautifully animated with a lot going on and so much energy in the air that it ultimately builds to beautiful finale. 

The story might not exactly be anything new and has a few hiccups, with that being said that is not nearly enough to stop the film’s story from being effective. There’s this 90s classic anime feel such as Sailor Moon that when paired with this exciting style of animation is absolutely exciting and almost feels like it’s putting this era into a different perspective. The visual storytelling is also fantastic there’s a lot of moments here where lines do not have to be said, the music pushes it forward in this way that the viewer can clearly understand. 

Overall KPop Demon Hunters is so far the best animated film of the year as well as being one of the best films of the year in general. Be sure to watch this one if you haven’t! 

KPop Demon Hunters is available on Netflix.

9/10 A

Heads Of State (2025) Film Review

U.S. President Will Derringer and British Prime Minister Sam Clarke have a not-so-friendly and very public rivalry. However, when Air Force One gets shot down over enemy territory, they find themselves on the run and working together to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world.

Heads Of State is directed by Ilya Naishuller director of Hardcore Henry (2015) and Nobody (2021). 

Heads Of State is not as bad as you would think, that’s mainly due to the fun cast, the direction from Naishuller, some decently timed comedic scenes and even some fun action scenes. The movie unfortunately does fall apart due to the story not really being that investing and a bit formulaic, having that said there’s a lot to like here.

The performances are fun especially Idris Elba and John Cena who both play the buddy cop duo very well, they play off of each other and have fun little banters that keep the movie going at this solid pace. The two’s back and forth are great with fun dialogue that does end up giving the viewer a decent amount to laugh at, it helps that Cena and Elba have the charm to make it work. 

The action scenes and the camerawork are actually decently effective here, you get some genuinely great shots during the action filled moments. This does not come to much of a surprise due to Naishuller who’s worked on two incredibly well shot and beautifully done films that ooze with the action film atmosphere, Heads Of State has some of the DNA from Hardcore Henry (2015) and Nobody (2021) although on a much lesser scale (which is not a surprise given that this went straight to streaming.) the film’s action scenes are not anywhere near as good as the previously mentioned films but Naishuller is clearly having a lot of fun and does everything he can with these scenes. For the most part it ends up being effective, taking whatever he can to make a straight to streaming action film work. From what’s presented here and considering what he had to work with, he does a pretty solid job here.

The main flaw with Heads Of State is mainly the writing, while it’s certainly not terrible. It’s not that investing and does land in the formulaic territory, the movie does admittedly get weaker as it goes on mainly due to its nearly 2 hour run time combined with the slow pacing (Cena and Elba can only do so much when it comes to moving the film along.) 

With that said, Heads Of State is not a bad movie, it’s one that misses some marks but is a fun enough time that will satisfy most action movie fans. 

Heads Of State is available on Amazon Prime Video. 

5/10 C

The Accountant 2 (2025) Film Review

Forensic accountant Christian Wolff teams up with his estranged but highly lethal brother to track down mysterious assassins

The Accountant 2 is directed by Gavin O’Connor director of Comfortably Numb (1995), Tumbleweeds (1999), Miracle (2004), Pride and Glory (2008), Warrior (2011), Jane Got A Gun (2015), The Accountant (2016) and The Way Back (2020). The film serves as a sequel to The Accountant (2016). 

The Accountant (2016) was a pretty solid action thriller that actually became a hit at the box office which is always nice to see a mid-budget film do well. A sequel was quickly announced as expected and well it definitely was not a bad attempt at a sequel, there really is not a whole lot to comment on here. Some people stand by The Accountant 2 being an improvement over the first film, while others stand by this one being weaker and I definitely think I fall into the latter. 

What does remain the same is the strong acting, Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal are both fantastic here. The two blend in with the film taking a more comedic approach this time around which actually does lead into some surprisingly charming moments, Affleck and Bernthal just work so incredibly well together to the point where even if you are not really into what’s going on in the film. You can at least how well done their chemistry really is and how much they carry this film. 

The film takes much more of a comedic approach this time around, yes there are thrilling and action filled moments but those are clearly not the main focus. You will get a focus on this people trafificking/conspiracy plot (which admittedly is really not that interesting) and then the film focuses on Affleck and Bernthal having a grand ole time at the bar, dancing and chatting about their lives. It’s a bizarre switch in tone but it mostly works due to the film’s ability to transition from scene to scene well. 

The final act is your traditional action filled section which is admittedly pretty neat, it’s not anything groundbreaking but there is the excitement factor that’s present and the build up is quite solid as well. The main criticism here is the running time, it goes on for way too long especially with a lot of scenes where you can really feel they are dragging it out for the sake of doing so. 

Overall there is not much else to be said here, The Accountant 2 is a sequel that while fun in it’s own way. Just sort of exists because of how well the first film did, I am admittedly interested to see how the third film will be done (at the time of writing this the third film has been confirmed.) Definitely not a terrible film but not one I will ever go back to.

The Accountant 2 is available on all VOD Platforms.

6/10 C+