Today’s quick review: Peppermint. Five years ago, Riley North (Jennifer Garner) lost everything when Diego Garcia (Juan Pablo Raba), the leader of a Los Angeles gang, had her husband (Jeff Hephner) and daughter (Cailey Fleming) gunned down. After years spent training around the world, Riley returns to Los Angeles seeking revenge. As Riley kills her way to Garcia, Detective Stan Carmichael (John Gallagher, Jr.) races to track her down.
Peppermint is an action movie about a woman out for revenge on the criminals that killed her family. Peppermint fits comfortably in with other revenge flicks. Using ruthless tactics and heavy weaponry, Riley hunts her targets and tries to stay one step ahead of the police. The movie has satisfying action that combines sharp gunplay with desperate hand-to-hand combat. The result is a straightforward but enjoyable pick for fans of the genre.
Peppermint has one quirk that distinguishes it from other revenge movies. Instead of following Riley as she meticulously works her way to Garcia, the movie only shows key parts of her rampage and has the police discuss the rest. The upshot of this approach is that the movie is able to focus on the most impactful scenes and let the audience fill in the gaps. The downside is that there’s less opportunity for the audience to invest in Riley’s plan.
Give Peppermint a shot when you’re in the mood for an action movie with clear motivations and clean execution. Riley’s skill at hunting Garcia’s men gives the movie a solid base to work with, and the movie’s plot progression keeps it interesting from beginning to end. Peppermint does not have quite the same polish as some of its competition in terms of its character work and story, but it is a robust movie that gets the job done.
For a more personal tale of grief and vigilante justice, try The Brave One. For a less compelling action movie about a mother’s revenge, try Maria. For another action movie about an ordinary person taking the law into his own hand, try Death Wish, The Punisher, or Acts of Vengeance. For a quirkier take on vigilantism, try The Boondock Saints. For an even darker action movie about cartel violence, try Rambo: Lost Blood or Sicario.
[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6850820/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for crisp action and a capable plot.