Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
"Law Abiding Citizen" has an intriguing premise at first glance but it quickly fizzles out as we watch a once good father become a sociopathic killing machine whose intent is to teach a corrupt lawyer and a corrupt justice system some lessons. The most disappointing aspect about it to me is that you could see the good idea in there waiting to get out, but that good idea is muddled by poor writing and direction. While the deaths are staged as thrills or shocks, they are each so heavily foreshadowed or so clichéd that it lacks any genuine excitement. What works here is Gerard Butler. He looks like he is enjoying himself as he sits back and watches his plan unfold, teaching people 'lessons'. His twisted lecture series for Foxx is a hoot and captivating. Every time he is on screen, you can't wait for what he is going to do or say next. What doesn't work is Foxx, or at least the script of his character. We know that he has acting chops, he played so well in "Ray", but there's no way he convinces me as a D.A., simply because there are just too many things someone of his intelligence would never do. There is potential in the scenario of a suspect seemingly wreaking havoc from behind the prison walls, but the explanation, when revealed, is so preposterous, and the ending, just plain stupid. "Law Abiding Citizen" is a mixed-bag!
- My Rating: 5.25/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 24% (4.3/10)
- IMDb: 7.3/10
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