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Hidden Strike is finally out as Netflix has salvaged the movie that was once called Project: X-traction and then SNAFU. This film has had a sordid history as it was once an action vehicle starring Sylvester Stallone and Jackie Chan and was then known as Ex-Baghdad. Yes that’s four different names for one movie with Hidden Strike probably being the worst of them.
Sly would eventually drop out paving the way for WWE wrestler turned actor John Cena to team up with Chan in a tale of two special forces operatives tasked with delivering civilians to safety through the affectionately known Highway of Death in the Middle East. It’s set in the near future where oil and water are more valuable than anything else on Earth. What culminates is a heist thriller where the nefarious forces attempt to pull off the biggest oil heist in history. Not if our two polar opposite heroes have anything to say about it.
Hidden Strike was made several years ago as Chinese censorship and COVID forced the movie on the shelf and there was one point where it looked like that it would never see the light of day. Normally a movie with such star power would be fast tracked but the darn Chinese and pandemics can be very pesky. It’s still funny as I wonder how this movie would have been received if it had been released when it was supposed to with a little promotion to help it.
This is a Chinese/American co-production so it’s important to note that a lot the movie has subtitles. Normally not a big deal but this may throw some viewers off when watching it. It’s probably half and half when you add it up so be prepared to read throughout. There’s also a heavy Chinese influence with the supporting cast and you can tell that this film was backed by Chinese backers especially at the beginning when there is a string of production companies shown off even before the movie commences.
Well, Netflix, like they always do, have swooped in and saved the movie and it was finally released without any fanfare whatsoever on Friday to next to nothing promotion. Once again, a movie with Chan and Cena would normally be treated better but such is not the case here. Is it worth the wait? The answer isn’t so simple as there’s a lot of good to go along with a lot of bad to make a loud, dumb, generic but fun buddy actioner with enough high/octane set pieces to entertain on a Saturday night.
First let’s talk about the bad. That way we can end on a good note and whether I think you should watch the movie. First of all, don’t listen to the usual reviews where some are calling this the worse movie ever. That’s definitely not the case. This is a clear case of turning one’s brain off beforehand and just enjoying the ride with a few beers and buddies in tow. Sometimes that’s a really good thing but it just depends on what tastes you have.
The biggest problem with Hidden Strike is the overuse of CGI where it literally takes you out of the moment several times throughout the movie. You can just tell that the actors were working in front of green screens and there’s numerous shots of landscapes that aren’t real at all. Sometimes this can work if it’s warranted but here it’s extremely excessive. There’s numerous shots of picture perfect landmasses and dunes that look like they were painted. I hate to say it but a fair amount of car stunts were generated as well.
Next up, the story is incredibly generic and plain and yes I say all the time that we don’t necessarily need an Oscar caliber script but here there’s nothing that will surprise you. What you see is what you get and I would have liked a few twists and turns to compliment the action and camaraderie. At the end of the day, this is a minor gripe but one that’ll sink the movie in the eyes of many fans.
The script let’s the movie down to a point also as it never knows of it wants to be a harder edged action flick or a more family friendly affair. There’s violence but it’s never over the top but there is a great deal of it that makes is more adult oriented.
What makes an action movie? Well, having a memorable villain to do battle with our stalwart protagonists. Hidden Strike offers nothing in the way of a bad guy that you’ll remember when the credits roll. Pilou Asbæk stars as the villain Owen Paddock and even though he’s exceptionally nasty and you want him dead from the first time you see him, he’s hardly going to go down as an iconic antagonist. He serves his purpose and that’s all.
The movie contains several action scenes and while they’ll be entertaining to a point, movies like John Wick and Extraction 2 have made this one routine when it comes to the adrenaline. This is a catch 22 as even though it doesn’t compare to those movies and you expect better from an action icon, it still delivers what you’re looking for. I’ll just never understand why they think wirework in a supposed grounded action film will look good. It doesn’t. Plain and simple.
Ok, now let’s focus on the positives and here it’s our two stars who jump off the screen and serve up a winning chemistry that sells the film from beginning to end. Jackie Chan is clearly past his prime but he’s still got it and Cena is up to the task in keeping up with him. The charisma between the two is electric and seeing them both swing one liners at each other is worth the price of admission alone. I’ll never forget “Slow and put it in the hole” for as long as I live. Another funny running gag is the misuse of hand signals between the two. I just found myself laughing when these situations arise.
I mentioned genetic action before but I want to stress that the set pieces are still entertaining and the finale is solid enough. The last 30 minutes features everything and the kitchen sink with Chan and Cena pounding on hordes of hooded henchmen. One particular part shows off Cena’s strength and I rather enjoyed how he threw soldiers around like rag dolls. Having action maestro Tim Man, looking menacing with tattoos up and down his face and body, is Shasta a plus and here he delivers and he gets to shine in the hand to hand combat department which is what I was hoping for. He gets to have a two on one match followed by a stunt induced fight with Chan that is fun to watch. Watching it, I felt that he should have been the main baddie as he’s way more memorable than Owen was.
There’s enough explosions, gunfire and fisticuffs to satisfy and it’s almost got a Mad Max feel to it with the gnarly assault vehicles and weaponry used. Director Scott Waugh, who also helmed the upcoming Expend4bles, is a stunt pro and he knows how to capture the high-octane images on the screen. Every action sequence is clean and well executed and this bodes well for his next outing which is highly anticipated. I’m eagerly awaiting to see what he does with Barney Ross and crew in the fourth installment. There is a standout moment where our two heroes square off and it is exciting to see them throw down with each other.
Overall, one can see why Hidden Strike sat on the shelf for so long. If this was released in the theaters, it would unfortunately flop even with Chan and Cena at the center. It’s generic, dumb and forgettable but it also works because of the stars and how they work off and compliment each other well.
There’s enough action set pieces to entertain but the overuse of CGI and wirework is unwelcome in a genre that excels with practical effects and stunt work. I would love to see Chan and Cena Star together again given better material and action. This is a mixed bag for me and I can’t help but think that I might love it more with more viewings. Only time will tell with that one but you could do a lot worse than this one.
VERDICT: 3 Out of 5 Stars
Jackie Chan & John Cena are solid in an otherwise generic and dumb actioner that is easily forgettable with the other output of action we’ve gotten this year.
