“It’s not soccer! It’s football!” —Steed
Today’s quick review: Final Score. American soldier Mike Knox (Dave Bautista) and his niece Danni (Lara Peake) are at a London soccer game when a group of Eastern European terrorists, led by General Arkady Belav (Ray Stevenson), take over the stadium. To keep Danni safe, Mike must fight his way through Arkday’s men before they get what they came for: Arkaday’s brother Dimitri (Pierce Brosnan), a former revolutionary now living in hiding.
Final Score is an action thriller that pits a protective uncle against a group of terrorists holding a soccer stadium hostage. The movie sticks to the basics of the action genre but executes them well, taking advantage of its unusual setting to shape the plot and stage the action. Visceral fights, a race against the clock, and a couple of creative stunts are all that it needs to be an entertaining watch, albeit a simple one.
Still, Final Score has many of the usual limitations of budget action flicks. The plot is self-contained and works as a vehicle for the action, but it isn’t especially deep. The characters fall into a similar middle ground: adequate for the story they’re in, but not especially compelling. Final Score also misuses its star power, giving very little time for Ray Stevenson or Pierce Brosnan to make a personal mark on the film.
Give Final Score a shot if you’re an action fan with accommodating taste. Its solid execution and expansive setting make it a step up from the usual budget fare, even if it still falls short of the more polished entries into the genre. Anyone looking for some easy thrills may want to take a look. Skip it if you’re looking for something deep, unexpected, or truly impressive.
For a more memorable action thriller with a similar premise, try Die Hard or Under Siege. For a crime thriller set in a stadium, check out Snake Eyes. For a more thrilling movie about a dangerous man protecting a loved one, try Taken.
5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for basic but enjoyable action.