Director: Gary Fleder (‘Runaway Jury’)

Starring: Jason Statham, James Franco, Kate Bosworth, Winona Ryder, Rachelle Lefevre and introducing Izabela Vidovic

Unquestioningly defending your family, and using whatever means necessary to protect them, no matter what the personal consequences are, is a common and thrilling theme that drives the suspense of the action genre. Actor Jason Statham is one action star who continuously embodies the emotionally-driven antihero who isn’t afraid to resort to doing whatever it takes to protect those he loves, in whatever role he takes on. That intense drive is once again the captivating motivator in Statham’s new action crime thriller, ‘Homefront,’ which was directed by Gary Fleder. The actor’s ‘Expendables’ co-star, Sylvester Stallone, who wrote the screenplay for ‘Homefront,’ basing it on the book by Chuck Logan, helped showcase Statham’s talent of balancing his non-stop action-filled stunts with his character’s love for his daughter to create an enthralling, entertaining film.

‘Homefront’ follows undercover DEA agent Phil Broker (Statham), as he infiltrates a gang of meth-running Shreveport bikers. After Danny T (Chuck Zito), the leader of the gang, is arrested, and his son is shot by officers, Phil resigns from the government agency. Two years later, Phil is living with his 10-year-old daughter, Maddy (Izabela Vidovic), in the small down of Rayville, Louisiana. He has taught his young daughter how to physically defend herself in emotional situations, as she’s still contending with the death of her mother the year before. The defense lessons come at the disdain of the psychiatrist at Maddy’s school, Susan Hatch (Rachelle Lefevre), who Phil begins to develop romantic feelings for.

After Maddy defends herself from one of the bullies in her class on the school playground, his parents, Cassie (Kate Bosworth) and Jimmy Klum (Marcus Hester), want some vengeance for the wrongdoing against their son. Jimmy, who was physically taken down by Phil in the school’s parking lot, is willing to accept an apology from Phil and move on from the incident. However, the drug-addicted Cassie sets out for payback against the former officer. So she turns to her drug-dealing brother, Gator (James Franco), for help.

With the assistance of his girlfriend, Sheryl Mott (Winona Ryder), a former biker-turned-barmaid, Gator starts off by playing pranks at Phil’s home. The vendetta escalates when he discovers Phil’s true identity as a former DEA agent, and proposes a trade to Danny T: he’ll offer Phil’s location in exchange for access to the imprisoned biker’s statewide meth distribution network. With the ineffective local sheriff (Clancy Brown) secretly working with Gator, Phil is left to defend himself and his daughter on his own.

Statham, who has effortlessly made a name for himself portraying fearless protagonists who will take whatever means necessary to defend himself in the action genre, once again proved his strength at playing an emotionally-driven antihero who isn’t afraid to resort to using violence to protect those he loves. Stallone created a likeable, relatable protagonist in Phil, who Statham authentically infused with a sense of despondency over introducing his young daughter to the violent effects of crime and gang life while working for the DEA. While ‘Homefront’s story is driven by Phil successfully and single-handily fighting back against the action created by Cassie’s need for revenge on Phil and Maddy, and Gator’s drive to deliver Phil to Danny T, Statham genuinely infused his character with a paternal instinct and drive to protect his daughter. While Phil realizes that encouraging Maddy to physically fight back against those who taunt her is the best way for her to learn how to maturely handle conflict, he realizes his past experiences have left him no other choice.

Besides creating a daring protagonist in Phil who continuously battles over his need to physically defend himself against his enemies, while also emotionally caring for his daughter, Stallone also created ruthless antagonists who were all driven by diverse motivations, in ‘Homefront.’ Cassie initially serves as the main cruel driving force behind the tension in the action crime thriller, who not only wants to defend her son, but her family’s honor. Bosworth perfectly plays the character as not being able to know when to settle a feud, due to her heightened emotions from her dependence on drugs. Her heightened dejection over her son and husband being physically beaten by the Brokers emotionally highlights the shallowness that drives her brother.

Gator is amusingly and shamelessly portrayed by Franco, who naturally bolstered the drug dealer’s increasingly merciless actions. While initially only pulling juvenile pranks as stealing Maddy’s cat to try to drive them out of Rayville, Gator instantly becomes callous when he discovers Phil’s former profession, and realizes he could use the information to his advantage. Franco instantly and instinctively harped on his character’s desire to further his distribution. The actor also showed when his deal was placed in jeopardy, he would take drastic measures to protect his interests, and not worry about the consequences until they begin to reveal themselves.

‘Homefront’s stunt coordinator, Brad Martin, infused the film with intense action sequences that subtly escalated to suit the seriousness of whatever situation Phil encountered. No matter what the situation was, the former DEA agent easily defeated his opponents, whether he’s bringing Jimmy down with a chokehold in their children’s school parking lot, or outsmarting several of Gator’s men down at the same time, by bashing their heads in with machines and kicking them with his hands tied behind his back. Martin organically incorporated whatever tools Phil easily had at his disposal to effortlessly overthrow his opponents.

Fledger’s emotionally-driven action crime thriller authentically mixed the talents of its main actors with the impressively intense stunt sequences created by Martin. Statham once again proved his strength at playing an emotionally-driven and fearless antihero, who will take whatever means necessary to defend himself, even if it means resorting to violence to protect those he loves. Combined with Bosworth’s humbling portrayal of a hopeless drug-addicted mother, and Franco’s brazen portrayal of Gator’s merciless actions to protect his business, ‘Homefront’ offers a satisfying mix of diverse, genuine motivations and emotions with bold, intriguing stunts.

Technical: B+

Written by: Karen Benardello