What lengths would you go to to save your kids? Most parents would say they would die for them. For Lee Gunner (Luke Hemsworth; Westworld), a former special forces soldier, that's a given. But before sacrificing his life, he'll do everything in his power to free his sons, Travis (Connor DeWolfe; The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers) and Luke (Grant Dolbare Feely; Obi-Wan Kenobi), from the clutches of a ruthless drug lord.
Gunner was away on military deployments for a long time, even going a year without contacting his ex-wife, Claire (Yulia Klass; Captors), and two surviving sons. Their oldest son was killed in action-something Gunner will never forgive himself for. When he suddenly returns home and wants to be a part of Travis and Luke's lives again, Claire is reluctant, Luke is happy, and Travis is angry. Determined to reconnect, he takes the boys on a camping trip. But while hiking in the woods, they stumble upon a fentanyl operation.
After triggering a booby trap that kills Gunner's brother-in-law, Gunner sends Travis and Luke for help, but they are captured by Ryker's crew. Meanwhile, the FBI raids the fentanyl lab, and Gunner is arrested. Ryker decides to make a trade-Gunner's kids for his fentanyl, expecting Gunner to get the drugs from the Feds. Instead, Gunner breaks Ryker's father, Kendrick (Morgan Freeman; The Dark Knight), out of jail to trade for his sons. However, when Gunner's plan encounters a glitch, he fears not only for his boys' lives but his own as well.
Hemsworth does an impressive job as the title character, showcasing the tactical knowledge and physical strength necessary to "hunt" a drug lord. Freeman, although not in the film for long, delivers memorable scenes, particularly a conversation with Hemsworth in a pickup truck. The young actors playing his sons perform well, but Shannon Jenkins is merely adequate. The rest of the cast ranges from forgettable to poor, though they appear in very few scenes.
Writer/Director Dimitri Logothetis (Jiu Jitsu) provides a few interesting moments, including the aforementioned truck conversation. He offers some well-shot visuals, and the fight choreography is decent. Unfortunately, the story lacks originality, and the ending is disappointing. The pacing is choppy, which disrupts the film's flow. Music Director Adam Dorn (Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind) chose eclectic songs, likely influenced by budget constraints. However, these choices often distract rather than enhance the movie.
Gunner is a movie that struggles with a recycled plot, mismatched music, and many mediocre performances. The script lacks originality, and the ending falls flat. Without Freeman and Hemsworth, Gunner would be a complete loss. It's puzzling why these actors chose to be part of this film.
If you're an action fan, you might appreciate the various fighting styles depicted in the movie, but otherwise, this is a film you could easily skip.
Grade: D
