We Die Young

This movie starts off at such a fast pace, the initial reaction is to strap in and enjoy, but unfortunately it soon runs out of gas. Fans of Van Damme will be pleased to see "The Muscles from Brussels" on the big screen. But while we don't expect to see the now veteran action star doing his trademark high-kicks, here we get little more than a shuffling, hand-gesturing performance. It's a shame, as the character of Daniel -- a PTSD-suffering, drug-addicted war veteran, whose only means of communication is via a voice app -- is an interesting premise. But one that perhaps would have been better suited for a more accomplished actor.

By We Die Young's finale -- a mass shoot 'em up -- any sense of empathy towards any of the characters has long since disappeared. Which is a relief, as the camera work is so jittery and the action so chaotic, it's difficult to tell who dies and who survives. Lingering shots of the Capitol Building and Washington Monument suggest a deeper sociopolitical commentary that is never actually explored. Instead, what's left is a shell of a movie whose strongest components have been seen countless times before -- only done better.