The Wrecker Review: This Throwback Action Flick Starring Tyrese Gibson & Harvey Keitel Is A Complete Disaster

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The Wrecker feels like a blast from the past, packed with over-the-top, 80s action movie tropes. It’s often hard to tell if the film is intentionally funny or just embracing its cheesy roots. The movie quickly dives into exaggerated displays of toughness – within the first ten minutes, a character shouts a line about protecting family! Directed by a stuntman, Art Camacho, the film heavily borrows from older action movies. From the exaggerated physique of Niko Foster to Danny Trejo’s role as a surprisingly tech-savvy father figure, The Wrecker is a strange and ultimately empty experience.

The movie could have been fun if it realized how over-the-top it was, but the writer and director, Foster, doesn’t seem to understand the humor. His main character, Tony, is an unbelievably muscular mechanic with an incredibly strong sense of morals – so strong, in fact, that he was kicked out of the army for refusing to shoot someone. There’s a particularly ridiculous flashback scene of young Tony playing with a friend who finds a gun, claims it’s empty, and accidentally shoots himself. Despite the seriousness of that moment, the director’s awkward camera work makes the scene unintentionally comical.

The Wrecker Doesn’t Have A Single Moment Of Original Thought

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Keitel and Gibson seem completely disengaged, though they do show up on screen. Keitel’s character, a notorious criminal constantly in the news, is strangely described as ‘untouchable’ – even after killing a police officer. This suggests the movie takes place in a bizarre, illogical world. The writing is also weak; an article is credited to ‘Staff Writer,’ and the character is simply called ‘Crime Lord’ right away, highlighting the film’s overall lack of detail and feeling like it was quickly put together.

The film actually centers more on Foster’s character than on Keitel or Gibson. Unfortunately, his raspy voice, reminiscent of Robert F. Kennedy, becomes grating after a while. While he handles the action sequences well – even brandishing a comically large wrench as a weapon – he’s quite dull in quieter moments, especially considering he’s portraying someone dealing with immense personal loss.

The story is straightforward: Tony’s brother, Bobby, has stolen a $280,000 yellow Lamborghini from a man named Dante and is now being held hostage. Tony agrees to work as Dante’s enforcer to pay off Bobby’s debt and secure his release. Despite Cheryl’s obvious attraction to Tony – she even offers him a key to her apartment – he continues working as a tough guy for Dante, resorting to violence to get the job done.

As expected, Dante eventually asks Tony to commit a murder, a direct violation of Tony’s principles. Tony refuses, and Dante responds by ordering an attack on Tony’s home – strangely, with instructions to shoot it up without harming his family. This plan doesn’t make much sense, and it fails. Tony quickly recovers from his initial shock and immediately focuses on getting revenge, hinting that he may not have been as dedicated a father as he seemed.

Mel Gibson’s character, Detective Boswell, is now trying to find both Dante and Tony. However, the actor playing Tony is so still, it’s like a scene from the movie Weekend at Bernie’s. Boswell is a very serious, no-nonsense cop – he even orders his coffee just “black.” The script, reminiscent of the Fast and Furious movies, focuses on the idea of ‘family’ in the third act when Tony thanks his fellow mechanics.

This movie offers nothing new and feels like the filmmakers didn’t have much imagination. It’s both predictable and boring to watch. The film is filled with tired clichés, and the overly sweet twist ending feels particularly pointless. The title refers to the main character’s fighting style, but also to the heavily modified car his friends build for him to reach the villain’s hideout. And, predictably, it features a completely unnecessary parade of silent, scantily clad women.

This movie isn’t particularly good, but if you’re looking for over-the-top action, The Wrecker might deliver. Be warned, though: it’s a bit sad to see a talented actor like Keitel in such a forgettable role, clearly just going through the motions. Don’t go in expecting a campy, enjoyable bad movie – it’s just not very good.

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2025-10-31 16:50