Hidden Strike (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – Two ex-special forces soldiers must escort a group of civilians along Baghdad’s “Highway of Death” to the safety of the Green Zone.

My Take – While Jackie Chan has recently starred in some stinkers as of late, with the awful Vanguard (2020) high on that list, this particular venture excited me quite a bit ever since its announcement.

Mainly, as someone growing up in the 90s and 2000s, it was quite a pleasure to watch the Chinese martial arts superstar pair up with a wisecracking American as they play off their clashing personalities. Resulting in financial success stories like the Rush Hour trilogy, the Shanghai duology and Skiptrace (2016).

This time around Chan is paired up with former pro-wrestler John Cena, who along with his obvious action chops, has proven to be also quite the funny man in films like Blockers (2018), The Suicide Squad and Vacation Friends (2021). And with their on-screen chemistry being the highlight, the resulting film is a decent action flick with varying degrees of success.

Originally titled Project X-Traction, here, director Scott Waugh (Need for Speed, Expend4bles) and writer Arash Amel (The Titan, Erased) deliver a generic buddy film that works as a lighthearted, high-octane adventure minus a thought-provoking narrative or anything groundbreaking.

Yes, considering how the film wrapped production five years ago and has since sat on the shelf before making a muted debut on Netflix, makes it obvious about the overall quality of the film.

Yet, personally I felt that it delivered on its promise to entertain, proving that sometimes all we need is a bit of mindless action escapism with our beloved action legends. Particularly, Jackie Chan, who at the age of 69 still manages to be fun to watch regardless of the vehicle.

The story follows “Dragon” Luo Feng (Jackie Chan), an ex-special forces soldier, who along with his team of mercenaries, has been sent to a constant attacked Chinese-owned refinery in Iraq to evacuate all of its employees, including his estranged daughter Luo Mei (Chunrui Ma) and Professor Cheng (Wenli Jiang), who literally holds the keys to the refinery’s billion-dollar oil reserves.

To get to the safety of the Baghdad Green Zone, their convoy must travel via bus along one of the most dangerous roads in the world nicknamed the Highway of Death.

But, on the way they’re attacked by a team of another mercenaries, which includes Chris Van Horne (John Cena), a retired US marine. Initially reluctant to take on the job, Chris accepts the offer after finding out the exorbitant cost of restoring water to the Iraqi village he has settled in.

However, when the nefarious plan of mastermind behind the rebels, Owen Paddock (Pilou Asbæk), is revealed, Luo and Chris join forces to stop the execution.

Though the film emphasizes entertainment, it struggles with a lean plot and underdeveloped characters, relying heavily on the charisma and chemistry between Chan and Cena to carry the story forward. As they confront the rival party attempting the massive oil heist, the duo’s camaraderie and action-packed escapades take center stage, promising a mindless yet enjoyable cinematic experience.

The problem lies in the script. The film lacks a compelling narrative and memorable action sequences, ultimately leaving some viewers wanting more depth and substance. Plus, the tone oscillates between tense moments of high-stakes danger and lighter, and it doesn’t start to live up to its premise until the halfway mark, and even then, the action and banter has been much better in both Chan and Cena’s past films.

The CGI too is not up to the mark and there are instances where it looks juvenile. While some set pieces are visually spectacular, the green screen effects falter in places, detracting from the overall experience.

Jackie Chan’s decades of expertise in hand-to-hand combat continue to impress, even as his age becomes evident. He injects each fight scene with his signature flair, and one particular sequence involving foam showcases his martial arts finesse. John Cena once again displays his ability to ad-lib dialogues and charm his way, irrespective of the character, and together the two form an engaging duo.

Chunrui Ma makes for an alluring and graceful presence on the screen. Pilou Asbæk plays his usual villainous self. On the whole, ‘Hidden Strike’ is a mindless action vehicle propelled by the star power of Jackie Chan and John Cena.