The collaboration of American director McG and French action entrepreneur Luc Besson might seem like a match made in heaven, however '3 Days To Kill', starring Kevin Costner, proves that perhaps the sensibilities of the two action aficionados don’t mesh that well after all.
'3 Days To Kill' tells the story of CIA agent Ethan Renner (Costner) who is nearing the end of a thirty year career working for the agency as an assassin. Following a disastrous attempt to capture a baddie known only as The Wolf, Renner passes out and wakes in hospital to discover that he has aggressive brain cancer and only three months left to live. Knowing he has limited time, Renner makes his way back to Paris in an attempt to reconnect to his estranged wife and teenage daughter whilst continuing his investigation into the mysterious Wolf.
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Luc Besson has forged a unique career scripting small budget action flicks set in his home town of Paris. These days he usually ops out of directing duties in favour of sitting back and producing the finished product. As is typical with this model of Besson filmmaking, '3 Days To Kill' has an interesting premise with a decidedly weak execution. The script feels overwritten and the tone of the movie shifts wildly from scene to scene, particularly when Amber Heard’s CIA agent Vivi shows up to chew scenery and make sexual advances on Costner’s ageing Renner character.
Regrettably, despite an admirable performance from Kevin Costner and solid support from Hailee Steinfeld and Connie Nielsen as his daughter and wife respectively, '3 Days To Kill' just can’t seem to decide if its a comedy, family drama or a gritty action film and the movie suffers for it. McG’s direction is serviceable and subdued and he gives up many of his previous trademarks in favour of a ‘house style’ that seems to dominate the recent work commonly produced by Besson.
In the end, despite a strong cast and the interesting duo of McG and Luc Besson, '3 Days To Kill' is a strangely paced action-thriller that has odd tonal shifts and little to make it memorable. It might be best to wait for DVD in this case.
2/5
'3 Days To Kill' is in cinemas from March 13.
For more of Tim's insights on film, visit thisisfilm.com.
