BREAKOUT

2013 / Director. Damian Lee.

Brendan Fraser movies tend to come with low expectations. I've never considered him to be a good actor but will grant him a few noteworthy performances. So approaching his new movie BREAKOUT was with an open mind and generosity. I am a sucker for wilderness thrillers with films like Shoot To Kill, The Hunted and First Blood being some of my favourites. BREAKOUT had a decent enough premise to perk my curiosity. Two children on a camp-out witness an execution in the woods by two criminal brothers who recently moved into a nearby cabin. One of the brothers is mentally retarded and the other is psychopathic and taking no chances, they are determined to hunt and kill the kids. Brendan Fraser plays the kid's father who is serving a prison term for manslaughter. Two weeks from release he finds out about the situation (contact via cell phone) and stages a breakout while on work detail in a nearby area of the woods (daddy to the rescue). This is a really stupid movie and its terrible. It looks like a bad midday movie with zero redeeming qualities. The cinematography is awful and absolutely no advantage was taken of the beautiful British Colombian landscapes surrounding the film. The world knows that Brendan Fraser is bald and yet he keeps showing up in movies wearing some of the worst hair-pieces ever committed to film. Ethan Surpee also deserves a reward for worst mentally challenged performance of all time (well close to it). Robert Downey Jr would agree that he make the critical error of going "full retard". I actually think that Dominic Purcell is an underrated actor but his talent is completely wasted here. BREAKOUT is a slow, boring and tedious thriller and belongs way at the bottom of the bargain bin and the only reason for you to watch it is to see if I'm overreacting. - You will regret you ever doubted me.

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