Unleashed

Review by Clint Morris

Not unlike a family together (at least, a Morris family get together), you usually know what to expect with a Jet Li movie: a few kicks, a few punches, an exchange of words between two parties, a couple of broken beer bottles, and, notably, someone having to take out the garbage near the end.

What a surprise then to discover the action regular's branching out with his latest one, even dishing out something resembling a performance.

Danny (Jet Li), taken in by mobster Bart (Bob Hoskins) from an early age, is treated like a prize greyhound.

When he's got his collar on, he's docile, when it's off - he goes sick, kicking the bejesus out of those he's teamed against.

When Danny sees an opportunity to escape the clutches of his evil master, he does, and winds up on the doorstep of a blind piano tuner named Sam (Morgan Freeman). They make friends, and with the help of Victoria (Kerry Condon), Sam's stepdaughter, Danny is taught how to be a human being.

Pretty soon he has traded his martial arts skills in for an interest in cooking, cleaning, music, art, shopping and ice cream. Obviously, Bart's going to come looking for his pup sooner or later though, right?

The hitch with Unleashed is that it's two different movies stapled collectively. It's one-part Rainman, and the other part, Cradle 2 the Grave (or essentially any other of Li's flashy actioners), with a bit of Pygmalion thrown in for good measure. As great as it is to see Li try something different, the mish-mash of genres is likely to slightly infuriate some and displease others.

Those coming to the film looking for an hour-and-a-half of non-stop action will be disappointed to discover that there's a whole middle to the film where there isn't a single kick or punch thrown, and those who've heard it's a 'sweet' movie will probably wince at the mildly gruesome action scenes that bookend the film.

Still, it's an admirable movie all the same - and definitely one of the better things Li has done. He's as endearing as he is lethal as Danny, and complimented by the always-versatile Bob Hoskins as the evil Bart and Morgan Freeman - though slumming it a bit - is likeable as Sam. The cast are inevitably one of the film's brighter spots.

In addition, the script has some very sweet moments (especially between Danny and Sam, and Danny and Sam's stepdaughter, Victoria) and when it does unravel the action, spurts it out in spades - choreographed magnificently by veteran action director Yuen Woo Ping.

Whilst Unleashed still has it's problems, it's a clear indication that Li's a lot more than just fists and feet, and that now and then, those that you'd least suspect (in this case, a typical action director) to have a grand idea - do.

3.5 out of 5

Unleashed
Australian release: Thursday the 18th of August, 2005
Cast: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon.
Director: Louis Leterrier.
Website: Click here.

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