Movie review: Escape Plan - prison break for dummies

In this classic escape plan from a high-security prison, the duo raises expectations but fail to steal the show.

When you think of mega action stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone starring together in an action flick, you can’t help but envisage the intense action sequences that would unfold in Escape Plan. But disappointingly enough, not only is the movie lacking a proper script, it also fails to impress with its weak action sequences.

Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) is a professional jailbird, who gets paid millions for uncovering weaknesses in security systems. After being recruited by a rather mysterious CIA client, Stallone finds himself locked away in ‘The Tomb’, a government-funded shadow prison, with no communication with the outside world. There he meets the tyrannical warden, Hobbes (Jim Caviezel), and realises he’s bitten off more than he can chew.

The movie only comes alive once the two stars meet. Emil Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a wily criminal, who befriends Stallone when he seems to be in danger of being overwhelmed in a fight. What follows is a story of tactics that the pair employ in order to escape this notorious prison. Compared to previous ingenious plans of Ocean’s Eleven and Prison Break, theirs can be best described as primitive and unimaginative.

What is further putting off is the performance by the supporting cast. 50 Cent unconventionally plays a computer nerd while the prison doctor is played by Sam Neill from Jurassic Park. And then, what is a maximum security US prison without a gang of Muslim terrorists. Stepping up to this challenge is Faran Tahir, cast as a Muslim terrorist, who assists the pair in their plan to break free.

However, the same cannot be said for the action heroes. While Stallone is stoic and acts like he’s giving a noteworthy performance, it’s Schwarzenegger who steals the show. You can see him having fun playing the eccentric Rottmayer and at one point ranting and raving in Austrian German while being interrogated. You can see that he’s not taking himself too seriously, which results in a rather fun performance.

There is no doubt that the two are superstars, and the concluding action sequence is an ode to how they reached the pinnacle of their careers, especially when Schwarzenegger totes a machine gun and literally demolishes the villains. You can’t help but feel like you have travelled back to the ’90s with the quality of action sequences and the ‘banter’ the two share on screen. You also question the choice of director Mikael Håfström, better known for his horror movies, who perhaps lacks experience in the action genre and fails to deliver. His decision to get close-ups just leads to an inadvertent focus on the aging stars’ wrinkles.

Clocking in at almost two hours, some necessary editing would have enhanced the viewing experience. For all Schwarzenegger/Stallone fans, it is highly recommended that you watch the movie. But for those who can’t keep their eyes from rolling at the cheesy one-liners, it’s best to steer clear.

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, November 10^th, 2013.