Today’s quick review: Escape Plan. Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone), an escape artist who tests the security of federal prisons, takes a risky job breaking out of a secret CIA prison known as The Tomb. But when Ray arrives, he learns that the job was a setup and that his only way out is to actually escape. To help him find a way out, Ray enlists the help of Emil Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a resourceful fellow inmate.
Escape Plan is an action thriller built around an unusually daring prison break. Escape Plan has a pair of strong leads, an interesting premise, and a competent plot. Ray’s escape attempts are the movie’s bread and butter. The Tomb’s security is seemingly impenetrable, but the holes Ray finds are clever enough to keep the movie interesting throughout. The challenge of survival and the mystery of Ray’s imprisonment round out the substance of the movie.
Escape Plan does a good job with its premise but doesn’t live up to its full potential. Rather than play out its mysteries all the way, the movie takes the easy way out in a couple of key places. Escape Plan is more plot-focused than the typical action movie, but its main elements could have been worked into a much more cerebral story than what the movie ends up being.
As far as action goes, Escape Plan is unexceptional. The brutal nature of the prison helps keep the tension high, but there aren’t many opportunities for real action scenes. Stallone and Schwarzenegger never really get the chance to shine as action stars, although they do good work with their roles. Escape Plan still scratches the action itch, but it does so indirectly through its tough characters and tense situations rather than its bullets and explosions.
Watch Escape Plan if you are looking for an action movie with an emphasis on plot. Though it misses the chance to be a cerebral drama, Escape Plan makes for an engaging popcorn watch. Those intrigued by the premise should give it a try; those looking for a high-impact film should skip it. For a more humorous movie with similar elements, check out Tango and Cash.
6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for an interesting plot and good leads.