NOW IN THEATERS! As far as Statham films go, Jean-François Richet’s Mutiny has him starring as an “insert occupation here” who happens to be a former special forces member, and then all mayhem ensues. This is no different.

Cole Reed (Jason Statham) is, yes, an ex-Special Forces agent who is a bodyguard and driver in Bangkok for the owner and CEO of KMG Shipping, Tibu. Reed is devoutly loyal to Tibu, who is retiring and in the midst of selling KMG so that his son, Kameron (Chaneil Kular), can start life anew with a massive nest egg.

While driving home from Tibu’s retirement banquet, Reed and Tibu are ambushed by KMG workers and the police. Tibu is killed, and after killing everyone, Reed escapes. Realizing that the cops may be involved, Reed learns that one of the killers works on one of the freight ships. He assumes a new identity and boards the ship in the hope of discovering who is behind the assassination.

Meanwhile, newly minted single mother and former naval officer Angie Ellis (Annabelle Wallis) is forced to work on freight ships for KMG to make a living, but she’d rather be home with her daughter. As Reed starts snooping around the freighter, he uncovers a shipping container full of workers…you know, human trafficking. Close behind him is Ellis, who finds them too. We soon learn the entire crew knew about this and wanted the pair dead. Can the duo not only evade the manhunt after them, but also bring the baddies to justice?

“Cole Reed is, yes, an ex-Special Forces agent who is a bodyguard and driver in Bangkok for the owner and CEO of KMG Shipping, Tibu.”

I mean. It’s all the same formula. Bad things are happening, and Statham takes them down. I tend to be mixed on all these films, but I’ve got to say I actually like this one.

It’s all about the action. The setup has a good action sequence, and we’re on the ship pretty fast. I think the contained location helps as you get a sense of space. The tight corridors are where Statham uses sharp corners, stairs, portholes, shipping containers, and ventilation shafts to take out the henchmen one by one. The final battle scene is good and gruesome.

My only complaint is that the movie constantly manufactures sympathy in cheesy ways. Ellis pulls up a picture of her daughter. Tibu says Reed is family after saving his life. Women and children in a shipping container. Let’s not forget the villains with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I get it. You’ve got to take a shortcut to quickly establish faces and heels. I just want a little more thought put into this trope.

In the end, Mutiny is mindless fun on a freighter. It stands out for its unique location and will land in the top half of the Statham action-film rankings. Why not use this one to introduce your kids to the violent action genre?

"…The final battle scene is good and gruesome."