6 UNDERGROUND (2019)

Directed By: Michael Bay 
Written By: Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese
Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli 
Editor: Roger Barton, William Goldenberg & Calvin Wimmer 


Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Melanie Laurent, Corey Hawkins, Manuel Garcia-Ruflo, Ben Hardy, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco, Lior Raz, Payman Maadi, Ron Funches 


What's the best part of being dead? It's the freedom. The freedom to fight the evil which lurks in our world. 6 Underground's group of unnamed individuals have chosen to change the future. The team's brought together by enigmatic leader code-named 'One', whose sole mission is to ensure that, he and his fellow teammates will have their actions remembered.


This is a film that is so huge and ridiculously over the top and overblown that it feels like a film that would have been an action classic in the 1980’s or 90’s. As you can see all of the $150 million dollar budget on the screen with an international mostly european flavor.

The problem is that the film is much more interested in the action sequences more than anything else. As it is a michael bay film they are photographed beautifully and come off as amazing to look at. Though overwhelmingly violent and gory. Which the director seems to take great joy in and trying to make some of it funny. Which doesn’t exactly work, Especially when your film is so hamfisted making everything feel intense when it doesn’t need to be that at many times you find yourself worn outnumber.

Even the sex scenes which don’t exactly feel necessary one is more romantic and the other whole setting up a romantic side story involves characters who want sexy more than romance so nothing romantic in the scene at all more ogling of bodies.

While this film has a genuine star in Ryan Reynolds who is there for the action but only participated in half of it. Since the film is more about a team they share their moments to shine some more than others and in the case of Adria Ajola barely any action. As the other actors shine.

It is through Mr. Reynolds and the rest of the cast that the movie More shines and you care more then you probably should. As Reynolds plays his usual cocky and sarcastic hero type here more of a leader.

The film seems to take certain joys upping the danger and adventure. As each new action sequence involves an even more dangerous amount of dizzying stunts. So much so that this film feels like XXX where as it is more of a stunt man’s movie that makes the actors look badass. As well as making the gratuitous violence almost pornographic. Though luckily the film doesn’t feel that technical. Though it certainly want to take the audience on a wild ride.

There is so much action no one could ever accuse the film of stopping or even being boring as the 20 minute opening car chase alone involves everything but the kitchen sink. Yet feels like the type of scene that would end most films and is one of the more impressive action sequences of the film even more exciting then the finale.

This film feels like a throwback to the men on a mission film. Where they form A platonic love for one another even if they don’t necessarily like one another. Also with the constantly shifting foreign locale and majorly foreign cast also makes it feel like this film could have been written by Luc Besson for one of his cross cultural action films. Though even those films have a clear lead and are basically star vehicles for whoever that is. Here it is much more of a team effort no matter who is top billed.

So by the end we get more of the same with a plot that seems stitched together just so Director Michael bay can show off his designer action shots and attempts of humor by adding a funny self satisfied leading man. Though after awhile no matter how it is dressed up it becomes monotonous. As if you already started with a spectacular action sequence throughout the film tried to top itself. So that it soon becomes the norm and nothing is as exciting. Especially if we know you can do it as we Just Watched you do it before, Making this film more a dumb, fun guilty pleasure under the guise of a more action oriented espionage caper film.


Grade: C+