Explosions. Samurai sword fights. Futuristic gadgets. An immensely powerful enemy. Really big guns. Bruce Willis.
Each of these ingredients is an essential aspect in the creation of a blockbuster action film, and they also happen to be some of the elements found in the new action flick “G.I. Joe: Retaliation.” When the special military unit codenamed the G.I. Joes is ambushed and nearly every operative is killed, it’s clear that they were coaxed into a trap of international proportions. Then, upon discovering that the U.S. government has been infiltrated by the evil organization Cobra, the G.I. Joes enlist the aid of the original Joe (Bruce Willis, “Die Hard”) and battle for control of the free world. Thus ensues the shooting, exploding and sword fighting – yet, though “Retaliation” follows the action equation to a tee, the result is certainly not a blockbuster.
The film’s most glaring fault is the hit-and-miss plot. “Retaliation” strives to be intriguing, emotional and exhilarating, but in truth the storyline is too complicated and at times incoherent. It doesn’t help that the first installment of the G.I. Joe series debuted almost four years ago and wasn’t received all that well in theatres. This creates an issue, because while viewers aren’t likely to remember the plot details from the first film, they remain an important aspect of the sequel. Flashbacks are used occasionally to help audiences bridge the gap, but even so, they are often too vague for viewers to discern any useful information. Consequently, this desperate attempt to create a genuine plot actually distracts from the grandeur of the action sequences and makes it more difficult for audiences to enjoy the film.
That being said, if you’re looking for action, it can’t be denied that this film offers copious amounts. There are explosions galore, gun fights out the wazoo and even a fight sequence in which ninjas scale the slopes of the Himalayas “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” style. There’s also the obligatory “cool guy walking away from an explosion” scene, which we all know completes the modern day action flick. In all, the stunts and effects in this film are its greatest asset, especially when considering the combination of martial arts sequences and traditional “shoot em’ up” fight scenes.
In terms of acting, “G.I Joe: Retaliation” is much like other action films in that the cast is somewhat mediocre. In fact, the best performance comes from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (“Fast Five”) as G.I. Joe operative Roadblock, who leads the remaining Joes in defeating Cobra. Throughout the film, Johnson embodies the hard military man with a soft spot, but his enactment still leaves something to be desired. Jonathan Pryce’s (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) performance should also be noted, as he was essentially required to play two parts: the President of the U.S. and the Cobra operative impersonating the President. As the villain, Pryce effectively unsettles viewers, and his ability to switch back and forth between these two characters is admirable.
Yet, as a whole, the dialogue in the film often seems overplayed and melodramatic. This could be a nod to the origins of the G.I. Joe franchise in action figures, especially bearing in mind the opening credits, which offer up profiles of each of the Joes in a style similar to video game characters. However, this concept doesn’t translate well on screen, and it comes off more cheesy than endearing.
In all, what “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” really has working in its favor is the intense action found throughout. Unfortunately, the overcomplicated plot and average performances by its cast detract from the action and make the film more difficult to follow. Fanatical action lovers will definitely be impressed by the film, but for the average viewer, “Retaliation” is two and a half hours that could be better spent elsewhere.
