Quick Review: Parker (2013)

PARKER

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
JULY 5, 2013

Exactly what one would expect from this or any future Jason Statham film, “Parker” takes the one-man-against-the-world scenario and brings it to Florida. One would think adding an impressive actor like Michael Chiklis as the villain would make the film more exciting and credible, but he has never given the direction or forum to stand out and instead blends in with the rest of the villains. Jennifer Lopez takes a turn, playing a struggling real estate agent just trying to get by. She often feels desperate and unattractive, despite her obvious good looks. With Statham’s heart belonging to someone else, there’s a complete lack of chemistry or even sexual tension in portions of the film that desperately need something. There’s no real plan or execution to anything in this film, yet it never quite reaches action gold like “Expendables” or even Statham’s previous endeavors in “The Transporter.” Instead, “Parker” falls completely average, containing nothing worth noting for Statham or anyone involved.

RELEASE DATE
January 25, 2013

DIRECTOR
Taylor Hackford

WRITTEN BY
John J. McLaughlin

BASED ON
“Flashfire”
by Donald E. Westlake

STUDIO
FilmDistrict

R
(for strong violence, language throughout and brief sexual content/nudity)

ACTION
CRIME
THRILLER
118 minutes