Hardcore Henry - Review Thread

Studios have attempted time and time again to successfully adapt video games to movies, and the results have literally never translated.  The films lack the feeling of playing the video games and the wild rush that can come with that.  With Hardcore Henry, they've decided to go all in on that feeling by entirely modeling itself as a video game shot entirely from a first-person perspective.  The results are entertaining to be sure, though the aesthetic decisions to fully play itself out as a video game also limits the film in every other department.

I'm not sure why people attempt to trump up video game plot lines as more than they are.  While there are certainly some games that do have a strong script and characters (we've certainly seen marked improvements in this over the years), for the most part the script can be boiled down to setting up objectives and going from there.  Hardcore Henry follows this objective-based plotting literally, complete with maps, quest markers, and boss fights that keeps the film moving and doesn't hesitate to showcase where its roots are firmly grasped in.  Sure, there are shreds of a plot within the film, but it's mostly just a skeleton for setting up your typical villain and being thrown through one sequence after another until you reach him.  The villain was... I don't know, he didn't click for me.  He was like a warped mixture of Julian Asange and Tommy Wiseau with kinetic powers, and a lot of his dialogue is comical but doesn't quite match up to the energy of the film.  He just tries too hard.  And yeah, he wants world domination.  Sure, but why?  Then what?  I guess that doesn't really matter, but what's at stake here?  Not much, but I suppose that's not really the point of the film either.

Sharlto Copley is certainly the glue of the film, and really shines here as the comedic relief and guide that zips Henry and the audience through the story.  His manic energy flows parallel to the film's wild action sequences and breakneck pacing, and he's a lot of fun to watch while he weaves among archetypes and over-the-top character performances.  Around him is also the film's only real attempt at shaking up the plot, though it doesn't come as much of a reveal when it happens.  Still, Copley is generally a lot of fun to watch and provides some hilarious moments while he hurtles Henry along towards the villain.

First-person in film is nothing new, so I hesitate to call Hardcore Henry innovative when we've seen short films and sequences in films to varying degrees utilize this technique.  Hardcore Henry definitely sticks to what the film is though, and the first-person element certainly elevates this film from being typical and uninteresting action fare to something slightly more.  The action is brutally awesome, and I can assure you that throughout the film's brisk running time there's no shortage in creativity on killing bad guys.  Whether it's throwing people into rotating propellers or point-blank shotgun blasts to the head, anyone that enjoys creatively executed action sequences should have a good time here.  I found it interesting that the film had not one but three cinematographers for the film, which as far as I know is almost unheard of.  Though the film can often slide into repetition, I have to say that the filmmakers approached each sequence with the video game mentality of throwing Henry and the viewer into scenarios unique of one another that keeps everything feeling fresh while Henry racks up the body count.  The last sequence where Henry fights a large group of soldiers on top of a roof is certainly the film's crowning achievement, and the ending is as hilarious as it is abrupt.  

Basically the film is the truest embodiment of a first-person shooter we've seen, and based on that you'll likely already decide if you'll enjoy the film or not.  I'm somewhere in the middle, though I did have a good time watching it.  It's not a movie that will offer much beyond the initial viewing, but it's a lot of fun and some of the first-person shots are pretty impressive from a technical standpoint.  The fight choreography is well designed and the filmmakers care to make each sequence unique from the others certainly shines to cut down on the repetitive nature of the film, though to be fair that is kind of what video games are, right?  On the other hand, the film doesn't offer anything in terms of plot.  We don't need much, but it's disappointing that a film as aware of itself as this one is doesn't attempt to elevate its material beyond the video games that inspired it.  Still, for one viewing I enjoyed it enough to overlook its weak points.

6/10