Movie Review: ‘No Escape’ is better than the bad rap it’s getting

NO ESCAPE (R)

Not to overstate the obvious, but one of the most fascinating things about movies in general—as is the case with all art—is perception. Take for example the new thriller “No Escape.” Some are suggesting that this film is blatantly xenophobic and that its attempt at political posturing borders on ridiculous. That’s the not the movie I saw. What I saw was a pulse-pounding white-knuckler of an actioneer anchored by two very solid performances in a convincing Lake Bell and an against-type but equally convincing Owen Wilson (yes, this normally comic actor also appeared in the serious “Behind Enemy Lines,” but his low-key, everyman persona in this picture is considerably different).

The setup here is simple: American Jack Dwyer (Wilson) loses his business in the states, so in an effort to make ends meet, he takes a new job and relocates his family to a fictional area somewhere in Southeast Asia. Upon arriving at their hotel, Jack; his wife, Annie (played by Bell); and their two young daughters, Lucy (Sterling Jerins) and Beeze (Claire Geare), immediately feel the culture shock, but they have no choice but to make the best of a tough situation, a situation that’s about to get a whole lot tougher.

After the first night in his new surroundings, Jack heads out a short distance from the hotel in an effort to purchase a newspaper when—without any sort of warning—he finds himself caught in the beginning stages of a deadly coup. It’s instant chaos right before his eyes as law enforcement officials attempt to prevent a violent local uprising.

As Jack frantically makes his way back to the hotel to warn his family, he realizes that his arrival is part of the cause of this particular uprising. What follows is a horrifically intense ordeal as Jack desperately tries to navigate his terrified family to safety.

As previously stated, Wilson and Bell are very good here as a couple whose current personal issues seem petty when compared to the peril that they and their daughters are about to be plunged into. Both actors—as well as Jerins and Geare—bring a real sense of humanity to their roles, and the fear they display is palpable.

A charismatic—and very funny—Pierce Brosnan shows up as a mysterious individual who takes an immediate liking to the Dwyer family. His Karaoke rendition of Huey Lewis’ “Heart and Soul” in this picture goes a long way to erase his less-than-stellar singing chops in “Mamma Mia!” from my memory. If I have any complaint about Brosnan in “No Escape,” it’s that there simply isn’t enough of him.

The second hour of “No Escape” doesn’t quite measure up to the first hour, and there are certainly lapses of logic. For the most part, Annie is a strong female character, but there is a pivotal moment in which she makes a really dumb decision in an effort to protect her husband. Furthermore, a sequence in which Jack and family make their way through the heart of a war-torn city while atop a motorcycle and somehow manage to avoid being captured was a bit hard to swallow. And yes, there are certainly predictable moments involving the fates of certain characters.

Overall though, this is a gritty, violent, pulse-pounding thrill ride, and since filmmaking siblings John and Drew Dowdle (“Quarantine,” “Devil”) have traded in their customary supernatural evil for more reality-based horrors in “No Escape,” the terror feels far more tangible. And man, do these guys know how to put together an action sequence! Look no further than a harrowing escape from a hotel rooftop. While admittedly overextended, it’s an unforgettable set piece.

The Dowdle brothers bring a sense of urgency and tension to the proceedings that at times reminded me of John Carpenter’s “Escape from New York” and “Assault on Precinct 13,” but at the same time, there’s a dramatic core here that’s a bit reminiscent of “Hotel Rwanda” and “The Impossible.” I’m not suggesting that “No Escape” is quite in the same league as the aforementioned movies, but there are certainly similarities.

True, the nameless and virtually faceless villains in “No Escape” are disturbingly callous and downright evil, but I certainly didn’t walk away from this movie feeling like it was xenophobic. In fact, I could name dozens upon dozens of awesome ‘80s flicks that feature nameless and virtually faceless villains of non-Caucasian origin that are beloved by many and—for whatever reason—above the venom that quite a few folks seem to be slinging at “No Escape.” I suppose the argument here could be that we live in a different time now, but if you ask me, a lot of this so-called “political correctness” is more over the top than anything in this picture. Suggesting that “No Escape” vilifies an entire race is like saying that Ice Cube is referring to all women when he uses the term “bitches and hos.”

And need I remind anyone that there is real life evil in this world? There are plenty of folks out there who hate the American way of life. That is hardly a racist statement; it’s the truth. Just the other day, I was talking to a friend who served an LDS mission outside the U.S., and he saw some pretty scary stuff of a hateful, racist nature. Does that change his opinion of an entire country? Of course not.

I don’t know why I’m waxing political here because this film is more interested in tension building than talking politics, and in that regard, the taut “No Escape” succeeds with flying colors.