Today’s quick review: A Man Apart. After seven years of effort, DEA agent Sean Vetter (Vin Diesel) finally manages to arrest Memo Lucero (Geno Silva), Mexico’s most powerful drug lord. But his victory is short-lived. No sooner is Lucero behind bars than a new drug lord calling himself Diablo moves in on his territory. Vetter and his team must start from scratch to dismantle Diablo’s operation before he can flood the US with new shipments of drugs.
A Man Apart is an action movie about a DEA agent on the hunt for the elusive head of a drug cartel. What starts as a professional matter quickly turns personal when Diablo targets Vetter’s wife Stacy (Jacqueline Obradors). Driven into a rage by the attack, Vetter begins to make risky decisions that do as much harm as good. The heightened drama gives A Man Apart the makings of its own identity, but for the most part it sticks to the basics of the genre.
The meat and potatoes of the movie is Vetter and his team working his way through the ranks of Diablo’s operation. Unlike some action movies, Vetter’s investigation is an actual challenge for him. Each link in the chain brings new problems with it, and Vetter’s rash choices lead to serious setbacks. Ultimately the plot is nothing out of the ordinary, but it is handled fairly well and makes the unusual choice of letting the hero reap what he sows.
Still, this is not enough to make A Man Apart stand out within the crowded action genre. The action scenes do what they need to do but not much more, with a few chases and a couple of shootouts but nothing too ambitious. The plot has a couple of clever scenes as the investigation zigs and zags, but the overarching story is standard fare. And while Vetter’s choices do have consequences, A Man Apart doesn’t take this idea as far as it could have.
A Man Apart has enough going for it to satisfy action fans who are looking for something competent but not necessarily outstanding. The movie flirts with the more serious flavor of drama seen in movies like The Departed or Sicario, but it stops well short of their extremes. As such, A Man Apart does not bring anything new to the table. Its execution makes it a fine pick for anyone in the right mood, but it is unlikely to leave a lasting impression.
For another tale of a man’s risky hunt for revenge, try Death Wish. For a revenge story with broader scope and more nuance, try Man on Fire. For a more exaggerated action movie about a law enforcement agent and his nemesis, try Face/Off.
6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for competent execution without the inspiration it needs to stand out.