Today’s quick review: Arsenal. Life has turned out very differently for brothers JP (Adrian Grenier) and Mikey (Johnathon Schaech). JP has a family, a business, and financial stability. Mikey is broke and divorced, with only low-grade criminal ventures and JP’s charity to keep him afloat. But things get even worse for the brothers when Mikey is kidnapped, forcing JP to take on Eddie King (Nicolas Cage), a vicious gangster from Mikey’s past.
Arsenal is a budget crime drama about a pair of brothers in a tight situation. The plot revolves around JP’s attempts to get Mikey back by any means necessary, including trying to scrape together $350,000 from his company and hunting down leads with Sal (John Cusack), a local cop. Modest production values and a weak plot keep Arsenal from offering much as a crime movie. But surprisingly rich characters help give the film some legs.
Arsenal does a better job with its characters than with its plot. The movie takes the time to introduce Mikey and JP, their shared history, and the tensions between them, which pays off in the form of increased personal stakes and a few tender moments later on. The building blocks of their relationship are simple but assembled with care, which is enough for Arsenal’s purposes. Their interactions are the most satisfying part of the movie.
The other parts of Arsenal fare worse. Mikey’s kidnapping is the keystone of the film, but there’s not much there. JP lacks the edge to be a good action hero, ruling out a high-adrenaline rampage to rescue his brother. Instead, Arsenal opts to treat the kidnapping like a mystery. Yet there’s no substance to JP’s investigation, just the artificial drama of a series of dead ends. The result is a flat plot that never really gets moving.
These issues are compounded by lackluster action scenes that temporarily slow the movie to a crawl. Arsenal does not have the skill or special effects budget to put together a compelling brawl or gunfight, so it relies on slow motion to make up the difference. The supporting cast does not add much to the film either. In particular, Nicolas Cage as the manic Eddie King is a good fit on paper but undermines the heartfelt tone the movie is going for.
Arsenal is worth a watch if you’re a fan of budget films and are in the mood for one that’s a little more character-oriented. The relationship between Mikey and JP, while not enough to offset the film’s weaknesses, does give it something of a unusual niche. But on the whole, Arsenal is badly outclassed by the better films in the genre. Most viewers will want to give it a miss.
For another crime drama about brotherhood, try Four Brothers. For a flawed heist movie that tries something similar, try American Heist. For a crime comedy with similar themes and a lighter tone, try The Brothers Bloom.
4.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for decent character work without the story, action, or supporting cast to support it.