Click Above To Buy NOW!

There are certain things that I hate about today’s action movies such as super fast editing, excessive use of shaky cam, and violence and nudity that can only be described as sensory overload. And yet, when Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor employ the same techniques, they tend to create an action flick that is far superior to anything else you’ll see all year. Gamer, despite looking like a complete piece of shit and starring someone who might as well be a piece of cardboard, is actually the best action flick of the year. This should be no surprise to those of you who have previously seen the Crank franchise.

Neveldine and Taylor once again combine forces to bring you an onslaught of brutality, ultra-violence, and pointless nudity. Gamer is an impressive feat visually, and unlike the Crank films, Neveldine and Taylor have attempted to actually say something this time around. Their ironic slap in the face to gaming fans and action movie fans is almost laughable when compared to the excess that Neveldine and Taylor so revel in during the actual film itself. Video gamers are painted as perverse, grotesquely obese losers who want nothing more than some sex and violence… and yet Neveldine and Taylor never censor their film at all pushing it to the boundaries of good tastes and, for some, beyond. While the attempt at social commentary is appreciated, it ends up going nowhere and the film devolves into a ‘80s Schwarzenegger-style flick full of dead bodies and little else. But if you’re an action fan, there’s nothing finer than watching a 2-dimensional character who simply wants his family back mow through an army of faceless people Commando-style.

The cast of the film is largely forgettable and ultimately pointless. You could pull this film off with robots if you needed to. The ever-underwhelming Gerard Butler continues his awesome display of effortless machismo as Kable, an innocent victim who was framed for killing some other dude. Butler doesn’t so much act in the movie as much as appear in it… which is a good thing for those of you that have ever had to sit through a Butler vehicle. Michael C. Hall is solid as Ken Castle, creator and founder of the Slayers video game that Butler’s character must fight in to gain his freedom. Hall is charismatic and fun when he is on screen, which is far too little. Terry Crews is wasted as a maniacal foe for Butler’s character… but for some reason he keeps showing up in scene after scene and getting his ass handed to him. There is also a small role for John Leguizamo and a cameo for Lloyd Kaufman, but these amount to nothing more than, “Hey, look at that” moments.

Gamer is piled high with visual trickery, CGI, and random moments of often-times hilarious shenanigans… such as one Slayer teabagging a fallen foe in real life. The bodycount of the film is huge, and Butler, for the most part, makes an effective murder machine. The kills are brutal, but quickly shot, so as not to overload the audience… but by the end of the film they become almost too much. After the 69th boob, the 100th dead body, and the umpteenth mention of the “Nanex,” you get the point… but Gamer just keeps plugging right along, unaware of its viewers limits. Good thing or bad thing? You decide.

Neveldine and Taylor’s film is an over-the-top tribute to action films of the past, which seems to have some sort of point… of course, the film’s point is obscured by the fact that the movie is far more violent and brutal than anything the filmmakers are actually speaking out about. But who gives a fuck? This film kicks ass… and when you turn off your mind and sit back for the ride, it’s even better.

Final Synopsis: Don’t be worried about the draining effects of effective social commentary… because there is none in the film… gold star for trying. This is quite simply an action flick which is in a darker vein than the bubbly and upbeat Crank movies. Neveldine and Taylor do the best job of creating enjoyable action movies in Hollywood, which makes this a must-see.

Points Lost: -1 for Gerard Butler, -1 for not giving Hall enough screentime

Lesson Learned: Never sign up for an experiment where someone fiddles with your brain.

Burning Question: Why would Kable even want his whore wife back?

Gamer
8/10

Tags: 2009, amber valetta, best action movie of 2009, boobs, Brian Taylor, brutality, Efren Ramirez, gerards butler, john leguizamo, keith david, kyra sedgwick, latest movie reviews, lloyd kaufman, ludacris, Mark Neveldine, michael c. hall, milo ventimiglia, noel gugliemi, nudity, pointless nudity, recent3, terry crews, ultra-violence, zoe bell