Review by Jon Donnis
The latest in what seems like a never-ending schedule of low budget, winter action film releases, The Commando sees Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Michael Jai White (Spawn) come to blows in a classic home invasion film.
James Baker (Michael Jai White) is a DEA agent who has PTSD after a mission that went wrong and as he returns home to his family, he has to deal with all that that entails. Little does he know that the home he and his family live in just happens to be a hiding place for the ill-gotten gains of a bank robbery that happened years earlier.
Johnny, played by Rouke, finds himself at a parole hearing after being locked up for his crimes, he sweet talks his way through the hearing and manages to get released. As soon as he is out, he decides he needs to recover his money, so with his gang, they set about James Baker's house, and this is where the main action starts.
Baker's kids have found some of the money and have started spending it thinking it is a long-forgotten stash that no one will ever care about.
The film itself isn't that long, the budget is relatively low, which you can tell from some of the dodgy sound, it is almost like some scenes were filmed with no mic boom, or actors wearing microphones at all, and just the sound recording from the camera. There are a few scenes which seem thrown in just for the sake of it, and the plot overall is pretty simple.
With all that said, Michael Jai White is convincing as the PTSD suffering DEA agent, and Mickey Rourke is always an interesting person to see on screen. I did think they would give us a nice swerve right at the end, but alas my hopes were dashed.
The Good
Strong performance from Michael Jai White, some decent gore effects, and convincing fight scenes.
The Bad
Some attempts at light hearted / comedic moments fall a bit flat. And people never reloading guns is always a bit of a pet peeve of mine.
Overall
Is it an action classic? No. Is it a passable 90 minutes of low budget action sillyness? Yes.
Is it worth your time to see it? If you are a fan of Michael Jai White then yes, why not.
Is it worth your time to see it? If you are a fan of Michael Jai White then yes, why not.
I score The Commando (2022) a generous 7/10
Rated 18 for violence, language, grunting.
Run time: 1 hour 33 minutes.
In selected cinemas and available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV outlets.
