Payback (1999)

Directed by Paul Abascal & Brian Helgeland
Written by Terry Hayes & Brian Helgeland, based on the novel The Hunter by Richard Stark
Starring Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, Kris Kristofferson, James Coburn

My Advice: Wait and Rent It.

When we meet Porter (Gibson), he's having a couple of bullets pulled out of his back.  Needless to say, the man isn't having a good day.  As we quickly learn, he's been cheated out of $130K (sorry, $70K) and on general principles he sets out to gain revenge on those who cheated him...and get his $130K (no, that's $70K).  Trouble is, just about everybody's cheated him, so he's got a lot on his dance card.

If that synopsis looks a little on the thin side, there's good reason: the plot doesn't have a lot of meat on its bones.  Along with this, the surprises are few and far between as Porter wades through anyone who gets in his way.  While all this is going on, whatever we had for a plot twist is worked out in the first twenty minutes or so.  With this out of the way, what is there to look forward to?

Well, I'll tell you--two things.  First, there's brutality.  Because believe me this is a harsh little flick, but to its credit it's at least original.  You've got sadomasochists, guys with large metal hammers, and...ah...rotary car phones.  Second, you've got Gibson playing a, well, "bad guy" is not necessarily the way to put it.  Try "morally reprehensible guy" instead, because there you have it.  And not only is he having fun dispatching the worse-villains-than-he-is with glee (and cigarette lighters), but he's obviously having even more fun getting beat up every other scene.  Seriously, if you thought he got his ass kicked in the Lethal Weapon films, you have only begun to watch Mel get bruised. 

However, Gibson's fun and a slew of great nigh cameos from a bunch of people can't make this film rise above its lot in life.  It's essentially a film light on humor (and you thought the $70K joke got old in this review?  just wait) and density with a too pat (but amusing) wrap-up at the end.  Fun, entertaining and escapist, yes, but also a rental.