Wrong Place
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Wrong Place
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Wrong Place is an action film in which Bruce Willis plays a former cop with mounting personal struggles. He's dealing with the death of his wife and the loss of his job and reputation, and his adult daughter (Ashley Greene) is fighting a terminal illness. As the script points out, no one fights harder than someone with nothing left to lose, and the plot suggests that healing comes from the fight. The violence is frequent and heavy-handed, with close-ups of stabbings and bloody shootings at close range. And the profanity is thick ("f--kin' bitch" is perhaps the most frequent). There's diversity within the cast, and heroes are depicted as brave and resilient. The villains are drug dealers, but no product is shown. Characters smoke cigarettes, and there are mixed messages when it comes to drinking and driving. A police captain verbally dismisses the idea that someone whose breath analysis comes in just above the legal limit is actually impaired.
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What's the Story?
In WRONG PLACE, former cop Frank Rich (Bruce Willis) takes a job as a security guard for a pawn shop while recovering from a family tragedy. When Frank witnesses a murder, he intervenes, thus making himself -- and his family -- a target.
Is It Any Good?
Throwaway action films like this one are known for featuring a former but memorable tough guy marquee name, a forgettable plot, a low production budget, and a high weapon count. They've been around for decades, but in the 2020s, they've been largely associated with one name: Bruce Willis. Of course, the name they should be associated with is that of executive producer Randall Emmett. Emmett is the creator of what's been dubbed "the geezer teaser," i.e., movies featuring limited appearances by the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, and John Travolta. Around the time of Wrong Place's release, Emmett was facing several lawsuits and allegations of abuse of power against actors, assistants, and business partners. Also, Willis' family shared the news that he has aphasia and had been struggling with the condition for quite some time, including during the making of this film. Knowing either of these pieces of information makes it difficult to watch the movie: It's hard to get lost in the story if you're worrying about the well-being of the star and hoping he's not being taken advantage of.
While Wrong Place is typical of most of Emmett's movies of this ilk (meaning it's not well made, well written, or well acted), Willis holds his own. Unlike other collaborations the two have worked on in which the plot has Willis confined to a hospital bed or tied to a chair for most of the movie, with most of the other characters carrying much of the weight, he's definitely the star here. It's the story of Frank and his daughter, Chloe (Ashley Greene), and while they rarely share the screen, we get enough of Willis to feel like he's OK, present, and (hopefully) even enjoying himself. The fact that the film starts out with a scene of Chloe receiving a cancer diagnosis sets an unexpected softer tone for a "blood and bullets" action film. Even more surprising is the positive, counter-stereotypical portrayal of a loving, committed same-sex couple. Add to this a positively depicted Black police captain, and there's a lot to indicate good intentions. That goodwill doesn't make the film any better. But the message of "always be prepared" does land -- even if it's the only thing here that can make that claim.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Wrong Place. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Discuss which marginalized groups are represented here. Are they positively depicted? Why is positive representation important?
The writer-director says he wanted viewers to "understand both sides of the story so that you can have empathy and compassion for both the protagonist and antagonist." Do you think he accomplished this? Why are empathy and compassion important life skills, and do you think villain characters are worthy of viewers' good will?
Are smoking and drinking glamorized here? Are there realistic consequences for substance use? Why does that matter?
How do characters demonstrate courage, integrity, and perseverance? Why are those important character traits?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 15, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: July 15, 2022
- Cast: Bruce Willis, Ashley Greene, Michael Sirow
- Director: Mike Burns
- Studio: Vertical Entertainment
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Cars and Trucks
- Run time: 96 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: August 17, 2022
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