Parents' Guide to Assassin

Willis' final movie makes good use of him, and it has an interesting story, but it succumbs to its low budget and hits a few too many stumbling blocks, making it a disappointing last hurrah. The directorial debut of Jesse Atlas, Assassin puts Willis in the role of a crusty ops leader who occasionally snarls an order or a short remark while others do the real work. At times, he almost seems like his old self, rather than the fading figure who was diagnosed with aphasia. The movie's sci-fi body-jumping tale may not be 100% original, but it's a strong hook. But while Assassin seems aware of the cruelty of the body-takeover setup, it doesn't seem to have enough time or bandwidth to make it hit home emotionally. Moments are sometimes too choppy or ill-timed. For example, in a scene in which two characters are shot and killed in a diner, no reaction shots are used to express the shock of the situation, and it falls flat. And while the climax should have been a powerhouse, it feels more like a head-scratcher. Perhaps a better movie could have been made with more resources, but this one is a disappointment, especially as the farewell vehicle for its co-star.