Today’s quick review: Security. Out of work and desperate, veteran Eddie Deacon (Antonio Banderas) takes a job as a security guard at a shopping mall. His first night on the job erupts into violence when Charlie (Ben Kingsley), a hitman for a powerful gang, and his men chase Jamie (Katherine de la Rocha), a teenage girl set to testify against them, into Eddie’s mall.
Security is a budget action film that pits five guards and one teenage girl against a ruthless team of assassins. The setup is simple: Eddie uses his combat training to mount an improvised defense of the mall with the help of his fellow guards. Security offers fairly good action, a premise that is interesting enough to hook the viewer, and a passable plot progression. Thin characters and lack of innovation keep the movie from doing more.
To the movie’s credit, it delivers some satisfying action. Eddie mows through the attackers with all the efficiency of an action hero, but the combat never loses its sense of grim desperation. Security wears the trappings of a gritty action thriller, but underneath it has plenty in common with more traditional action movies. The two strains blend together about as well as can be expected in a movie of its caliber.
Where Security’s low budget shows is in its character development. Eddie is set up as a haunted character with a rocky relationship with his family, but his background is never explored in depth. The same goes for Jamie, whose past with the gang would have been easy dramatic fodder, and Charlie, who comes across as a single-minded villain rather than a character in his own right. The characters’ relationships are likewise simple and briefly sketched.
Security makes for a fine watch when you are in the mood for straightforward action and a serious tone. The movie lacks the extra care needed to appeal to anyone but action fans, but it does reasonably well with the tools at its disposal. For a better action movie with similar types of conflict, check out Die Hard. For a family comedy with a similar premise, check out Paul Blart: Mall Cop.
5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for being a decent but unexceptional action flick.