Today’s quick review: Homefront. After a drug bust ends in violence, DEA agent Phil Broker (Jason Statham) moves to the country to raise his daughter Maddy (Izabela Vidovic). But trouble finds him again when he runs afoul of Gator Bodine (James Franco), a local drug dealer. When Gator fails to run Broker out of town, he raises the ante by revealing Broker’s whereabouts to Danny T (Chuck Zito), the drug kingpin Broker put in prison.
Homefront is an action movie starring Jason Statham. What begins as a fresh start for an ex-DEA agent and his daughter escalates into violence as his new enemies and his old ones join forces. Homefront takes a more grounded approach than some action movies, showing Broker’s attempts to defuse the situation before it gets any worse. As such, the bursts of sharp action as Broker defends his daughter feel more than justified.
Homefront picks a workable premise and executes it with skill. The fight choreography is quick and impactful. The conflict ratchets up steadily and in a believable manner. The supporting cast includes Kate Bosworth, Winona Ryder, and Frank Grillo, populating the town with a variety of people for Broker to interact with. And unlike more fantastic action movies, the villains of Homefront have human weaknesses and make clear mistakes.
Still, Homefront is not as gripping as it could be. The movie spends a lot of time in between conflicts, waiting for one side or the other to take things to the next level. The efforts Homefront makes to establish Phil and Maddy’s home are only partially successful. Finally, while Broker’s clumsy and haphazard enemies are a breath of fresh air, some viewers will prefer villains who are a little more grandiose.
Homefront is a fine pick for anyone looking for escalating action in a small-town setting. Although Homefront is not Statham’s most memorable movie, it makes use of his talents nicely and has a good bit of tension to it. Skip it if you are looking for something with a faster pace, larger stakes, or more explosive action.
For another action movie about a grudge match between a DEA agent and a criminal he arrested, check out A Man Apart. For a darker thriller about an outsider who receives a hostile reception from the residents of a country town, try Straw Dogs. For another action movie about a low-level conflict that escalates out of control, try First Blood, Road House, or Walking Tall.
[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2312718/). I give it the same for intense action and a decent plot.