On a remote coastal island, a reclusive man (Statham) rescues a young girl (Breathnach) from a deadly storm, drawing them both into danger. Forced out of isolation, he must confront his turbulent past while protecting her, sending them on a tense journey of survival and redemption.
What We Thought:
Shelter is far from Jason Statham’s best movie, but it’s a serviceable action-drama coming out in the dead zone that is January at the cinema. The biggest issue is that it feels like a bunch of other movies that do the same thing better. Statham does everything he can to keep fans interested, but this could have very easily been a streaming only release.
Statham plays a former British special-ops type who’s hiding out on a secluded island trying to keep his past in the past. He gets supplies from a young girl and her uncle until a storm changes all their lives. Statham’s past comes to light and those who thought he was dead don’t like that he’s back on the grid and send the house at him to make sure secrets don’t get exposed. Statham’s only job now is to keep the girl out of harm’s way as she realizes the man is much more than she could have dreamed of.
While watching the film I thought of Leon: The Professional, the Jason Bourne flicks, the John Wick franchise, The Beekeeper and other movies from directors like David Ayer, Paul Greengrass, and Doug Liman. It could be the plot of a Mission: Impossible sequel with an aging Ethan Hunt.
The dynamic between Statham and Bodhi Rae Breathnach reminds me of Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Leon: The Professional. His past is very much Jason Bourne or John Wick. On paper that all sounds great to me, but I actually didn’t love the look and direction of the movie. I think the same movie made 15 years ago with Greengrass or Liman behind the lens would have been a huge hit. Director Ric Roman Waugh has plenty of action movies under his belt and a stunt background, but I thought the movie looked blurry and overly choreographed at times. I understand Statham is getting a bit older, but he can still handle a movie like this with ease. Ric Roman Waugh has worked on two of the Has Fallen films (the third film and upcoming fourth) and Greenland/Greenland 2 all with Gerard Butler so maybe Shelter would have been better off with Gerry and not Statham.
All that being said, I still found myself cheering and clapping at times while watching Shelter. It’s far from unwatchable, but you know what’s going to happen. I can nitpick certain kills, scenes and decisions made by characters, but overall it is what I expected it to be. If you like Jason Statham films or any of Ric Roman Waugh’s work, you’ll enjoy it, but keep your expectations low.
The Nerds Templar 