Sabotage is a gritty action film and (surprisingly enough) mystery story fused into one. It’s an interesting stretch for well-seasoned action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, although the gamble doesn’t quite pay off. This effort is a decidedly mixed bag, working only in fits and spurts. It features a few good lines and individual scenes thanks to its impressive cast, but overall they can’t make up for other moments that seem tonally out of place and implausible.
The story follows John “Breacher” Wharton (Schwarzenegger) and his undercover DEA swat team (Sam Worthington, Joe Manganiello, Josh Holloway, Terrence Howard, Max Martini, Kevin Vance and Mireille Enos). When $10 million dollars go missing during a cartel sting operation, the agency immediately suspects Wharton and his underlings. This close knit group refuses to talk and are eventually reinstated. However, after members begin dying mysteriously, Wharton teams with a gruff detective (Olivia Williams) to determine whether the deaths are the result of the drug cartel seeking vengeance or the work of one of his own “family”.
Director David Ayer (End of Watch) attempts a similar approach to that used in his earlier films – the language is crude and nasty, morals and ethics are shady, and the camera work employs a hand held shakiness in an attempt to give a cinéma vérité style feel to the material. However, the characters are so hard-boiled and there is so much cigar chomping and scenery chewing that despite its best efforts the characters become difficult to take seriously.
Breacher’s back story is brutal and horrific, but he barks at others in ways that can’t help but garner laughs (the hilarious highlight occurs when he angrily insults a superior by giving a less than complementary estimation of their body fat percentage). It’s funny in the moment, but it doesn’t lend credibility to the seriousness of the story. The violence at times is also extreme, including a character that is tortured and executed onscreen. Again, this heavy approach feels at odds with moments with the lead’s smart aleck comebacks or the old-fashioned, shoot ’em up action finale. Schwarzenegger still can’t help but fall into action movie hero mode, when a reserved handling of the material would have been more appropriate.
Perhaps the most startling aspect is that the mystery itself is more effective than the action scenes. As the plot develops and the characters become paranoid, the movie does gain momentum. It’s difficult to adjust to the over-the-top characters and situations early on, but as the story progresses there are a few foul mouthed jokes that are well timed and effective, particularly between the detective and her partner (Harold Perrineau). Besides a car chase near the end, it’s the action that doesn’t seem to click. There’s a western themed coda that, apart from an interestingly ironic line about “family”, feels like a scene out of a completely different movie.
In the end, Sabotage can’t quite decide what it wants to be. Individual moments work, yet the whole package doesn’t really come together. While there are some enjoyable aspects, they’re only enough to recommend it as a DVD rental (it will probably play better on the small screen) and not as a night out at the movies.