If I'm even in trouble, I would hope that Jason Statham is nearby to throw a few punches and rid me of the filth that wanted me dead. Homefront shows my reasoning loud and clear.
Looking to escape his troubled past following the death of his wife, former DEA agent Phil Broker (Statham) moves to a quiet town in the bayou with his daughter. But the town proves to be anything but quiet...or safe as it is laced with drugs and violence that allows no one the convenience of closure.
James Franco co-stars as Gator Bodine, a sociopathic drug lord who runs the small town and is looking to secure distribution rights state wide. Though the casting appeared a bit off at first sight, Franco proves to be a brilliant choice opposite Statham as the pair face off in a high stakes games of chicken, never hesitating to put pedal to the metal for the sake of what they love.
The pair works brilliantly together; Statham's calm demeanor is the perfect contradiction to the crazed performance from Franco, giving the film a true element of surprise as you begin to doubt even the most obvious of clichés.
But there is a lot more to this film than its two leading men.
Homefront flies through its introduction, getting down and dirty from the onset as it quickly introduces the audience to a long-haired Broker who is moments away from taking down a highly funded drug ring. Things are a bit hectic during the initial five minutes, but the chaos gives you just enough backstory to work, as with any Statham film, you don't really care about the why, so long as shit gets crazy and dead bodies become prevalent by the half-hour mark. Don't worry; this one doesn't disappoint.
Written by Sylvester Stallone, Homefront never shies away from its intention, embracing its violent story and giving viewers the high-octane thrill ride they expect. The stunts are extreme; the situations a bit crazy, and the dialogue dry, dirty, and laced with humor. Sure things are over the top, but fans of Statham wouldn't have it any other way as he bulldozes his way through his enemies with absolutely no thought or care as to the destruction that he leaves behind.
The final brawl proves to be a bit lackluster, and Statham's Broker possesses a bit too much control from the onset to really make it a fair fight. And while very little reflected any degree of reality, seeing the good guy walk away leaves you with a good feeling in your gut.
That being said, the film's persistent attempt to possess a moralistic lesson is a bit ridiculous, especially given its mad premise. I realize that there is a kid in the film (easily the worst decision by everyone involved), but please, no one is looking at this film as a learning experience.
As it sits, Homefront is a hard film not to enjoy. On that same token, it is also a film that is nearly impossible to take seriously.
