Today’s quick review: Act of Valor. When CIA agent Lisa Morales (Roselyn Sanchez) is kidnapped while investigating Christo (Alex Veadov), a wealthy international smuggler, SEAL Team 7 is sent in to rescue her. The intelligence gathered during the mission points to a connection between Christo and Abu Shabal (Jason Cottle), a wanted terrorist. Now the team must race to catch Shabal before he can launch a devastating attack on the United States.
Act of Valor is an action movie that follows a team of Navy SEALs on a globe-spanning mission to stop a terrorist attack. Act of Valor’s main claim to fame is its use of actual Navy SEALs for its cast. The SEALs’ inexperience leads to some mediocre acting, with flat exposition and dialogue that varies between too formal and too friendly. In exchange, Act of Valor gains access to professional-looking action that shows off a variety of SEAL tactics.
Act of Valor works well as an action movie. The stunts are varied and plentiful, the SEALs are always interesting to watch, and the movie has a keen eye for logistical details and tactics. Act of Valor isn’t stingy with its action, while a few flourishes like first-person camera work keep things feeling immediate. However, like other action movies, there isn’t much to Act of Valor’s plot, and its attempts at emotional impact are only partially succesful.
Act of Valor is a solid pick for anyone in the mood for pure action. The movie’s simple plot and middling performances keep it from reaching the heights of other movies, but the action scenes are engaging and even the weaker parts of the movie pull their weight. Fans of the genre should give it a shot. Those hoping for something with more depth to it may want to pass.
For a less action movie about an elite group of warriors, try The Expendables. For a more sober look at military life, try Jarhead or Flags of Our Fathers.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for straightforward, satisfying action.