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Tales of vengeance abound throughout history. From early Greek tales through the works of Dumas, McCarthy and even King, man has sought to right wrongs perpetrated upon him. Film has captured this uniquely human trait many times as well. With the release of “Law Abiding Citizen,” Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx join the cinematic vengeance club.
Following a horrific home invasion, Clyde Shelton (Butler) is looking for justice. This seemingly average Joe has put his faith in the system and Assistant District Attorney Nick Rice (Foxx). His family murdered before his very eyes, Shelton teeters on the edge as the wheels of justice slowly turn. As with most tales of vengeance, the everyman is pulled from a frighteningly ordinary yet blissful life and thrust into a nightmare of unimaginable proportions. “Law Abiding Citizen” is no different in this regard; in fact, it is not much different in many regards. It is the viewing equivalent of a comfortable pair of slippers that you slide on after a hard day’s work.
Rice has an ego matched only by the heinous nature of the crime, and it is partially this ego that weighs in with his decision to cut a plea bargain with one of the two suspects. This portion of the film was confused. It’s easy to see what the director and writer were going for, however, they did not adequately develop the idea of Rice making a deal with such a horrific human being. It is alluded to prior to Rice giving Darby (Christian Stolte) a plea agreement. This sends Darby’s partner to death row, while the obvious sociopath gets a minimal sentence. Perhaps more damning is the handshake forced upon Rice by Darby after the trial, a moment not unnoticed by Shelton.
The film then flashes forward 10 years. Rice’s career continues its stratospheric rise, Darby has done his time and justice is about to be served to his accomplice. During the lethal injection, something goes wrong leaving the condemned to suffer a far from painless demise. Darby is immediately suspected, but a guardian angel mysteriously calls, warning him that the police are on their way. It is at this point that the film provides copious amounts of deja vu.
The mild-mannered Shelton shows a real knack as not just an inventor but also as a dealer of his own brand of justice. After Darby’s body is discovered in a particularly grim state, Rice and the forces of justice suspect Shelton. But lacking proof, they are reliant on a confession. This sets in motion a cat-and-mouse game not witnessed in Philadelphia since Rocky chased that chicken.
Butler has been on the fast track to stardom since his turn as King Leonidas in “300.” The hunky Scotsman has covered all the bases with a chick flick “The Ugly Truth,” another action jaunt “Gamer” and a chic caper film “RocknRolla.” Now, being head-to-head with all-around star Foxx will undoubtedly put his mug on many new radars. For his part, Foxx is entertaining as the self-assured ADA, but the role is completely forgettable. The film suffers from this same malady as the obvious plot and is further tempered by a tired script. The few melodramatic moments between Butler and Foxx elicit the desired reaction from the crowd, but the viewer is left feeling as though both know they are playing down to the film.
Philadelphia plays a prominent role in the movie, perhaps the most memorable role. The film is a blatant capitalization on Foxx’s star power and Butler’s burgeoning career. It’s full of melodramatic moments and tired plot twists. With the continued success of this played-out genre, it has become obvious that while Ghandi was correct in saying “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind,” the rest of us continue to be visually impaired.
Rating: W W 1/2
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