High-Octane
Summary
Reckless won’t be for everyone as the script could have been a little sharper, but the film has enough fights to keep it interesting and seeing Scott Adkins and Mark Strange throw down is always fun.
Plot: A former convict on parole must outwit the police to get his share of an old heist.
Review: Scott Adkins shows his comedic chops as well as his fighting skills in this entertaining action comedy which feels heavily influenced by Guy Ritchie. It doesn’t quite reach those levels, but this is still confidently directed and has a scene stealing turn from Mark Strange who plays one of the villains, the Bishop. The big bad is played by Vinnie Jones who always manages to be intimidating without even speaking.
The story has Scott playing armed robber Devon, who is betrayed by his partners and is sent to jail for 5 years. When he gets out he wants to get back the money he is owed but it isn’t going to be easy. He has to team up with Kimber (Nicole Deon) who Devon saves from a potential rapist; she has a knack for killing people by mistake which provides some solid laughs. There are some surprisingly heartfelt moments here and a somewhat bittersweet ending. I like how Devon isn’t some invincible badass; he’s not the sharpest tool in the box and yet he tries to see the best in people even when they don’t deserve it.
Reckless also obviously has plenty of fight scenes; nothing that rivals the likes of Undisputed, but Adkins still has the moves and his fights against Mark Strange are the highlights.
It’s well paced, clocking in at 90 minutes although I wouldn’t have complained if there was an extra fight or two.
Overall, Reckless shows a new side of Scott Adkins while also giving us the what we want – Adkins beating up bad guys. I like how he never actually kills anyone and if someone does die it’s pretty much by accident. This won’t be for everyone and I think it helps if you like British humour (which I obviously do) but the fights make it worth watching as does Mark Strange who is clearly enjoying every minute.