Ten Stars or Less

What did I like?

The best parts of No Escape are the death-defying chases, the unknown obstacles of a foreign land, and the raw human emotions of trying to survive. I loved how the violence started right off the bat and lasted right up until the final scene. The director did not shy away from the gory violence of foreign gangs and their dislike of white people.

What didn’t I like?

If you have ever seen the movie The Impossible, you know that the only way that story could ever be told is by the survivors. All I can say about this film is some lead actors/actresses will survive while a few others will not. Some people may be upset with the predictability of this story, but the fight for survival should make up for its short comings.

Was No Escape a good story?

I couldn’t decide what was more exciting, watching the drama and violence unfold, the desperate measures our characters will take, or watching my best friend cringe and cry while watching No Escape. There will be some movie goers who bulk at this movie thinking it is garbage, while others with a soft spot for human compassion will really enjoy this film. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat as much as she was, but I really enjoyed this film and was able to look past the lead cast thanks to the intensity of the situation.

Notable Performances?

There are five people who deserve credit for their performances in this movie, but I am going to give the nod here to Owen Wilson. We all got to admit no one takes Wilson serious because his whole career has featured him in comedic roles where he appears to be an idiot. I was convinced through No Escape that he can play a variety of roles. He handles the pressures of the war zone like a solider and is willing to sacrifice himself to protect his wife and kids.

Would I recommend it?

I think it is a safe bet to recommend No Escape, but with a warning that the story may not be for everyone. A lot of people loved The Impossible and I think No Escape is a much better survival film that brought the intensity wave after wave, bullet after bullet.

my star rating: 8 out 10

imdb: 6.8 out 10 / metascore: 37/100 / rottentomatoes: 69% out 100%

roger ebert: 0.5 out 4 / richard crouse: n/a