Ignore the Time Out review

First of all, ignore the Time Out review. The chances are high that if you are reading this, then you have deliberately searched for a Steven Seagal movie, in which case, you probably enjoy a "dumb, gratuitously gun-filled, nonsensical action picture" as much as I do. And this is one of his best.

For a start, it recognises that he's a bit past his sell by date and for once doesn't insult our intelligence by pretending he can defeat a room full of fit martial artists. Equally unusually for a Steven Seagal flick, it is full of humour, with some great one-liners and one moment in particular of classic slapstick. The cast is superb: Morris Chestnut, who is always good, plays the head bad guy, Ja Rule, Kurupt, who I confess I've not heard of before, is excellent and provides most of the laughs, Nia Peeples is brilliant as a wonderfully OTT kick-ass Matrix style villainess who beats up all the blokes, Tony Plana, and even ex-Avenger Linda Thorson and Bruce Weitz from Hill St Blues put in an appearance.

I suppose die-hards might argue the action is a little tame for a Steven Seagal film (not much blood, it being a 15 rather than the usual 18), but that didn't bother me. So don't worry about the plot (do I have to keep reminding you this is a Steven Seagal movie?), crack open a few beers and enjoy it for what it is.