Today’s quick review: Unstoppable. Dean Cage (Wesley Snipes), an ex-black ops soldier struggling with PTSD, is forced to relive his darkest moments when Sullivan (Stuart Wilson) mistakes him for a federal agent and doses him with an experimental hallucinogen used in interrogations. Disoriented and vulnerable, Dean clashes with Sullivan’s men as Detective Amy Knight (Jacqueline Obradors), his closest friend, races to save him.
Unstoppable is an action thriller starring Wesley Snipes. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Dean Cage finds himself in the middle of Sullivan’s attempts to sell a stolen drug that could be the ultimate weapon. Unstoppable drags its protagonist through old memories and new hallucinations as he tries to piece together what’s happening to him. The movie never goes above and beyond, but it does make good use of its premise.
At its best, Unstoppable is a standard action thriller with a decent hook. The fight scenes are not exceptional, but Dean can move when he has to, and it is cathartic seeing him take down Sullivan’s men. The investigation involves phony ambulance drivers, phony FBI agents, unhelpful cops, and a stolen shipment of an experimental drug. Finally, Dean makes for a nicely scarred protagonist who must face old fears to defeat Sullivan.
For better or worse, Unstoppable sticks to the fundamentals. The plot is carefully scoped so as not to bring in too many characters or set pieces. The villains are generic, and their continual mistakes make them feel more like an inconvenience than a threat. The presentation does a good job of getting inside Dean’s head, but the camerawork can be too jumbled at times. In general, Unstoppable suffices but never excels.
Unstoppable is a fine pick for action fans. The opening is a little cluttered, but the movie finds itself as Dean gets dragged deeper into the drug’s delusions. The end result is not groundbreaking, but it should be enough for viewers who are just looking for some adrenaline. Steer clear if you are looking for an action movie with more original stunts or a more expansive plot.
For a much more stylized action thriller about a man dosed with a poison that causes him to behave erratically, try Crank. For another Wesley Snipes action thriller, try Art of War or Drop Zone. For a more measured action movie that deals with a veteran’s struggles, try First Blood.
[4.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349889/). I give it a 6.0 for decent action with few frills.