Today’s quick review: Fire with Fire. After witnessing gang leader David Hagan (Vincent D’Onofrio) commit murder, Long Beach firefighter Jeremy Coleman (Josh Duhamel) agrees to testify against him to help Lt. Mike Cella (Bruce Willis). Jeremy goes into Witness Protection under the watch of Deputy Talia Durham (Rosario Dawson) to stay safe until the trial. But when Hagan threatens Jeremy’s loved ones, he decides to take justice into his own hands.
Fire with Fire is a budget action movie about a fireman who takes on a neo-Nazi gang to protect those closest to him. Fire with Fire does not make for an especially memorable watch; neither its premise nor its action stand out in the crowded action genre. But the film makes smart use of the resources at its disposal, and its busy plot, familiar supporting cast, and simple but effective characters make it a modest but enjoyable entry into the genre.
Unusually for an action movie, Fire with Fire has an amateur protagonist. Jeremy is a skilled firefighter but a rookie action hero, and it shows in the risky, slapdash way he goes about fighting Hagan. His mistakes make him a more sympathetic character, and they play to Josh Duhamel’s strengths, rather than forcing him into the role of an unstoppable killing machine. With this character choice, Fire with Fire sidesteps its biggest potential pitfall.
Beyond this, Fire with Fire is a basic but competent execution of the action formula. The plot has more complexity than most budget picks and manages to keep Jeremy busy throughout the film. The supporting cast includes Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and Vinnie Jones. While none of them shine, they do round out the film nicely. As for action, Fire with Fire has what it needs but with no frills.
Fire with Fire is a serviceable pick if you’re a fan of the budget action genre. Fire with Fire lacks the spectacle to truly impress as an action movie, and neither its characters nor its plot are enough to make it a moving watch. But within the limits of what the film is capable of, it’s a tidy, enjoyable watch that avoids any major mistakes. For a tale of vigilante justice with more flavor, try The Boondock Saints.
5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for modest amounts of action and story.