It wasn't as bad as it could have been, but...

paul_haakonsen

Well, I am sure that "Breakout" was meant with the best of intentions, however, director Damian Lee just made some really bad choices along the way.

This movie was sort of a very light version of "Deliverance", except it was nowhere as interesting, captivating or thrilling as that classic movie.

The story is about Jack (played by Brendan Fraser) who is prisoned for being an environmentalist, and his children (played by Holly Deveaux and Christian Martyn) and friend (played by Daniel Kash) get trapped in the Canadian wilderness where they witness a man being killed. The killer Tommy (played by Dominic Purcell) and his brother Kenny (played by Ethan Suplee) hunt down the witnesses, as to erase all trace of their crime. Luckily, the imprisoned environmentalist bust out of prison work in the forest in order to help his endangered kids.

Storywise, then "Breakout" is actually alright, if it wasn't for some really, really awful moments throughout the course of the movie. I am talking about the fight scene of course, where Jack just runs off after having grounded Tommy and leaves the rifle behind for the deranged killer to pick up. And this leaves me to the second thing; that being the lack of proper aim and ability to hit things that Tommy showed while handling the rifle. He most definitely have studied at that 'bad guy academy' where all villains and goons learn not to hit whatever they are firing their weapons at. It was just laughable. There was a scope on the rifle, and it wasn't even put to use.

As for the people on the cast list, well they were doing good enough jobs with the limitations they were imposed through the script. It was a bit strange to see Brendan Fraser out of his ordinary comedy element, but he pulled it off well enough, not great mind you, but passable for entertainment.

"Breakout" is the type of movie that you know exactly how it will turn out and you are always one step ahead of the story, because it is just that predictable and that much slave to the step-by-step 'how to make a Deliverance spin off movie' handbook.

As for the title of the movie, well it could have been better picked, perhaps at something that actually had more to do with the movie than the "Breakout" title actually did.

But still, "Breakout" passes as good enough, albeit mindless, entertainment and is good enough for a single watching. I am rating it a 4 out of 10 stars.

score 4/10

paul_haakonsen 3 November 2013

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2898949/