Bullet Points: Vanquish
From one of the creative forces behind Bad Boys comes another generic action film starring Ruby Rose. Is it time to end the Ruby Rose as an action star experiment? Let us find out with my review of Vanquish.
- The Legal Stuff: Lionsgate will release Vanquish in select theaters on April 16th, on Digital and On Demand on April 20th and on Blu-ray and DVD on April 27th.
- What exactly is Vanquish about?: Vanquish stars Ruby Rose and Morgan Freeman. It is directed by George Gallo and co-written by Gallo and Samuel Bartlett. It is the story of a mother, Victoria (Ruby Rose), sent on a mission by a retired cop Damon (Morgan Freeman). Her mission is simple: Collect money from five different places in order to save her daughter. If this plot sounds familiar to the millions and millions of action fanatics reading my review, it is because this plotline has been recycled many times, with Seized starring Scott Adkins and Mario Van Peebles being a perfect example for this courier rescue mission genre. To put it in plain English: Vanquish does not have an original bone in its body.
- The Hair: What does it tell you about Vanquish when I talk about the hairstyles and facial hair of supporting characters before I dive deep into my film criticism? What Vanquish lacks in excitement, it makes up for with awesome hairstyles and a groovy mustache. Agent Monroe (Patrick Muldoon) sports a rockin’ ponytail. Detective Kehoe (Chris Mullinax) parties with one of the best mullets I have seen this side of the Alabama spring formal dance, and Rayo (Joel Michaely) represents a mustache that would make any ‘70s adult film star envious. Give an Oscar to the hairstylist behind Vanquish.
- ZZZZZ Action: You want to go to sleep? Watch Vanquish. It is boring in so many ways. Ruby Rose is once again just there. From The Doorman to SAS: Red Notice, Rose continues to land leading action parts. I believe in my heart she is not an action star. She is best suited in supporting roles. Not all people can carry action movies. If it makes any of you Ruby Rose die hard fans feel any better, I did like her in John Wick: Chapter 2 and xXx: Return of Xander Cage. I am not sure if it was done on purpose or not, but she went in and out of her Aussie accent throughout the film. Maybe it was my headphones, but you must put in more effort than what she is currently putting into these roles. Rose’s action scenes involve her riding a motorcycle to a synth beat while collecting money from bad guys. She finds the time to shoot a few in the face and save a hooker. Vanquish feels like the same action scene on repeat repeatedly.
- God, I mean Morgan Freeman: God Bless, Morgan Freeman. At an age where most of us reading this review will be dead, he is still acting and colleting checks. He is lazy as hell in Vanquish and I have no problem with it. He sits in a wheelchair the entire runtime and calls out locations to Rose. What a way to earn a living. He is a national treasure, and we are lucky he is still acting. I cannot wait to see him in the next movie in the Fallen franchise.
- Final Thoughts: Vanquish had the opportunity to have a ballsy ending. Instead, it takes the easy way out. Vanquish is one of those movies you have on for background noise. If you can get more out of it, go for it. If you still believe in Ruby Rose as a credible action lead, you are way more optimistic than me.
- Grade: C
