Don't Believe the Hype

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

Steven Seagal's direct-to-video movies have been on something of a downward spiral as of late, so it's nice to see a film that finally takes a step in the right direction. MERCENARY FOR JUSTICE is no masterpiece by anybody's reckoning, but it's nevertheless a slick, action-packed thriller that doesn't take itself too seriously, while at the same time offering up a number of humorous supporting characters, a little welcome comedy and plenty of bangs for your bucks. Seagal himself presides over things, looking surprisingly distinguished in a suit, but bloated and aged elsewhere. At least fans can be thankful that he doesn't have somebody else dubbing his voice this time around (as in the likes of TICKER) and we do get to see him take part in some fun fight scenes, displaying his trademark aikido moves. Elsewhere a body double steps in as Seagal's character runs across some rocks, but we can forgive that.The plot is typically convoluted, but then you wouldn't expect anything else from this kind of movie. There are double and triple crosses, lots of nefarious bad guys, and some MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE style intrigues in bank vaults. One thing the film has in its favour is some great, stylish camera-work, done well on the low budget – if you can call a multi-million dollar budget a low budget – and strong, inspired direction. The script is mundane but there are some great supporting characters who steal Seagal's limelight; newcomer Jacqueline Lord is devilishly attractive as the heroine of the piece, while BLADE II's Luke Goss plays a corrupt government agent with typical aplomb. Roger Guenveur Smith's performance is less assured as another villain – I can't decide whether he's good or bad – and South African Adrian Galley steals all his scenes as a beefy bodyguard with a nice line in humour.The action is fun and varied, ranging from war action at the beginning (great) to a house-under-siege at the end, reminiscent of THE KILLER. Between then there are some cool fights, including a battle between Seagal and a goon in a bathroom that is really painful to watch. Necks and arms are broken with relish and blood spatters everywhere once the shooting starts. The title is somewhat amusing, seeing as Seagal goes about gunning down policemen and SWAT team members without blinking an eyelid; yet we're still supposed to identify 100% with this 'hero'. All in all, MERCENARY FOR JUSTICE is a film more entertaining than it has any right to be, and a real treat for Seagal fans who thought the actor had lost his way.

I liked Seagal.... In his prime. A long time ago, (Okay, 1989) Steven Seagal was the master of the martial arts, A man who speaks little, but makes up for it in kicking ass... and he was lean and mean. Nowadays, he's fat, he can barely talk above a whisper, and he just doesn't care. But he keeps churnin' out the junk.And I keep falling victim to it. For Seagal DTV standards, (does that even make sense?) it isn't as bad as "Submerged" , but it's not as good as "Belly Of The Beast".The plot: John Seeger (you know who...) is an ex-mercenary, CIA, FBI dude, who has to break into a prison, while orchestrating a bank robbery. Then Seeger shoots lots of people. That's about it.What's with the three word titles? Enough already. I guess people don't think it's a Seagal flick without a three word title. The title doesn't even make sense. A mercenary works for money and he has no soul, he doesn't do it for justice.The only actors good in this is Roger Guenveur Smith as the villain Mr. Chapel and Luke Goss as Dresham. But even they were coasting.If you want a good Seagal flick, go with "Out For Justice" instead.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

"Mercenary for justice"- surely a candidate for oxymoron of the year -is the first Stephen Seagal movie I have seen since the excellent "The Foreigner" and I am disappointed to report that the dear boy has let his love for the folding green overcome his artistic sensibilities once more.What are you like,Steve? That is not actually a rhetorical question because what he is like is clearly Stephen Fry on steroids - physically rather than intellectually you understand.Now I am old and flabby,but my excuse is that I'm also poor and anonymous,I don't go to the gym(I wouldn't know what to do if I ever got there)and I don't have a personal trainer,a life coach or any other of those completely essential adjuncts to showbiz fame.Mr Seagal has no such cop outs.He is an "Action Movie" star,not a bleeding couch potato yet his spare tyre is bigger than the one on David Beckham's Hummer. But I still kind of like him,strange isn't it?An affection forged in the white heat of his masterpiece "Under Siege" still holds sway. Love is certainly strange,but "Mercenary for Justice is a step too far,even for so staunch an admirer. The first ten minutes made me laugh more than the whole of "The Bucket List".A blonde - haired lady with muscular thighs and some sort of circus costume jumps on and off lorries killing highly - armed soldiers before disappearing from our ken rather mysteriously.That bloke from Bros should have stuck to causing pre - pubescent girls to lose bladder control because there's more future in that for him than in acting. The movie is cut(I hesitate to use the word "edited") like the kind of video game you might find on a malfunctioning machine in the Amusement Arcade on Brighton Pier. And our hero?Needs to hang up his black combat pants at least until he can find a proper movie to work in.Perhaps "Under SIege 3",set in a Franciscan Monastery where the chief monk geezer is holed up in the bell tower with an Ingram and Britney Spears.No?Well stranger things have happened,and if it ever comes to pass remember you read it here first.

"Mercenary For Justice": a confused mixture of a bit of warfare in the "Black Hawk Down" vein, a bank robbery, a prison break and a mission to save an abducted mother and her little son. In between all the bullets flying around, you hardly get to know the characters, and thus you don't really care about any of them. I liked most of Seagal's recent movies such as "The Foreigner" or "Out For A Kill" (and many who watched those don't agree with me). However, "Mercenary of Justice" was the weakest among those I've watched. Seagal defeats bad guys without wasting any blood, sweat or tears. It's all coming too easy to be exciting. The two only good points were some camera work (many shots were hand-held, looks more realistic than nice crane moves) and beautiful Jacqueline Lord who bears a strong resemblance with Catherine Zeta-Jones and plays her role convincingly no matter if she is at a dinner party or a battle.