“All video game movies suck.” That is a common phrase around the interweb, and I mostly agree with it (although I do enjoy the Resident Evil series quite a bit). When plans of a Max Payne movie rolled around and they announced Wahlberg for the role I felt a smidge of optimism. When I saw Max Payne I felt a smidge of entertainment. Just a smidge.
What makes me angry about the “All video game movies suck” school of thought is that they don’t HAVE to suck. It is just time and time again terrible film-makers have kept this theme going. Max Payne doesn’t change that at all. It just doesn’t deliver on all levels. There are a few amazing visuals in this movie, but they are too far and in between.
The plot starts with Max Payne some years after his family’s murder. He is out for revenge. Connections are slowly but surely made between his family’s death and the death of a girl that he refused to fuck, and a drug on the streets.
This film had amazing visuals of hallucinations when people were on the drug. I think they could have used the drug and hallucinations a lot more and made the film more interesting. Instead we get Wahlberg, with his bad-ass face on, walking around intimidating people. They also used the slow-motion effect that was used in the game a couple times, but it just came off as distracting instead of contributing to the actual story.
Mark Wahlberg didn’t really do anything special with this character, but at the same time the writers didn’t give him a chance to flesh it out. I read an interview and he talked so highly about the film, but perhaps when he talks about it in retrospect he will think differently. I thought it was pretty cool to see Mila Kunis. I don’t think she has had a role like this before. She didn’t do a WHOLE lot but it was something different so I give her some credit.
Nothing about this film, except for a couple cool visuals that collectively equal about a minute, was memorable.
Despite all assumptions that video game movies suck, I gave this film a chance. It let me down. I was bored within 30 minutes of watching. Please do yourself a favor and don’t see this movie.
I give Max Payne a 3 out of 10.
Say “hi” to your mother for me okay?
Tags: Movies, Movie Reviews, max payne, mark wahlberg, mila kunis, video game movies
