Triple Threat (2019) by Jesse V. Johnson

Director: Jesse V. Johnson
Year: 2019
Country: Thailand/China/USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Action

Plot:
After supposedly joining a rescue mission, a pair of mercenaries are left for dead when their quarry instead frees a condemned terrorist and leave them with the rest of the hostages. Shortly afterward, they’re approached by a fellow mercenary who survived the assault on the camp thinking they’re involved in the killing of his wife but later learns that they’re in the same situation he is and agrees to team up with the two to take on the rest of the mercenaries who attacked them. Realizing that they’re taking out a hit on a wealthy heiress looking to curb out crime syndicates in the area, they’re forced to protect her in order to get the revenge they seek and fulfill their missions.

Review:

Frankly, while disappointing in a sense, there’s still plenty of enjoyable elements. When dealing with pure action-packed sequences here, there’s a lot to like here which is the main purpose of this one. The opening raid on the camp to free their imprisoned leader under false pretenses serves this one well, letting the bullets fly with an abandon that features enough blasted bodies, gunplay and explosions to generate the kind of early excitement. An explosive double-raid on a hotel followed by the troop following the survivor to a nearby police station sets up some dynamic and engaging gunplay between the overmatched officers and the mercenaries blowing by them while also engaging in several fun martial arts battles.

It’s really the finale, though, that offers up some exceptional action scenes. Taking place at the abandoned factory at night, the way this starts off with the tactical shootouts that leave just the main group to prepare for the triple bill of stellar fights that emerge. As all six performers are allowed to shine brightly in these extended battles, there’s a highly enjoyable atmosphere watching the martial arts skills of these performers in it. That they manage to keep things pretty straightforward and filled with some great choreography to get everybody a chance to shine and have the upper-hand during each of their individual patterns. This is rightfully the best part of the film and holds it up the most.

The cast, when not involved in their fights, are generally pretty solid. The trio of mercenaries, Scott Adkins as Collins, Michael Jai White as Devereaux and Michael Bisping as Joey leave great impressions as the ruthless assassins that serve the story well, showing the tenacity and intensity needed from former Special Forces agents, even coming up with the ingenious plan of the surprise storming a police station with the intent of getting their target. The heroes aren’t as impressive, as Tony Jaa’s Payu is given the backstory of being a great field cook and Celina Jade’s heiress role of Tian Xiao Xing is tough and determined but has little else to do but get shot at given the impressive fighters around her. Tiger Chen’s Long Fei and Iko Uwais’ Jaka are fine with their one-note roles, while Jeeja Yanin is absolutely wasted without getting a major fight and being the first one killed. These here are what hold this one up for the most part.

There is a really big issue to be had with this one. This comes from an exceptionally wonky and clustered storyline that serves to give the groups ample reasons to fight but keeps twisting the motivations around needlessly. The storyline about the agent attempting to double-cross the mercenary team by making them think they’re closing in on the two protecting the girl but really looking for revenge secretly goes nowhere as he doesn’t do anything but stand around not saying anything and goading them into trying to fight him. This is dropped without really getting any kind of resolution and has no exceptional reason to be there when it could’ve been far easier to have the three protect the girl from the start without that setup. This is really the main point holding this one back.

Overview: ****/5

With only a few minor issues here with a convoluted storyline and some wasted roles here, the rest of the film offers stellar martial arts and traditional action setpieces that offer plenty to like about it. Give this a shot if you’re a fan of the genre or of any of the performers involved or curious about the film through its reputation, while those turned off by the genre will have no interest in this one anyway.