Gerard Butler and Jamie Fox in "Law Abiding Citizen"
courtesy of Overture Pictures
“Butler Scores As A Law-Abiding Citizen”

Gerard Butler has a solid fan base. They discovered him basically in “300” and have stayed faithful ever since. This means they have endured some pretty bad movies but now they have one that is worth their time. “Law Abiding Citizen,” now on DVD, at first glance appears to be another version of Charles Bronson’s “Death Wish,” but once you get into the story you realize it is more, much more. The violence and the craziness go to the extreme but the core plot is a fascinating one. This is the kind of movie you may not want to enjoy but odds are you will.

Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) is a law abiding citizen until his home is invaded and his wife and child are murdered. Then he becomes a man who craves justice. But justice, in his eyes, is denied when plea bargains are accepted by some of those responsible for the heinous acts. Clyde begs Assistant District Attorney Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) to go all out in the prosecution but the deals are made.

This is when Clyde begins his journey to teach Nick a lesson, and he does it violently and graphically. He is not out for vengeance, per se; he is out to prove you can’t bargain with murderers. He becomes an executioner of sorts to prove his point.

At first all your sympathy is with Clyde but that begins to change when he becomes a sadistic killer. Still he always holds a little bit of good will in reserve as you remember what he endured. Nick on the other hand never totally gets the audience on his side and that is a weakness of the film.

Butler is believable as the man with a plan. This role is much more like the one he played in “300” then the guy he played in “The Ugly Truth.” These tough guy dramatic roles are where he excels. Foxx struggles to find a sympathetic core to Nick, while Leslie Bibb makes a warm impression as Nick’s assistant.

The supporting cast is strong with Colm Meaney playing a determined police detective, Gregory Itzin (“24”) playing a frustrated warden; Bruce McGill playing Nick’s supportive boss; Regina Hall playing his neglected wife; and Viola Davis as a ticked off Mayor. Annie Corley is a standout as a smug judge who has a thing about cell phones.

“Law Abiding Citizen” has a lot of food for though concerning our judicial system, and the points it makes will stay with you long after the movie ends. Audiences will probably respond to the violence and the basic decency of Butler’s character before he goes too far. 

You may not want to admit you liked this movie but odds are you will find yourself riveted to it. It has some flaws in the plot but overall it is above average in entertainment.

Also out on DVD is “Maneater.” This is a film about an LA socialite looking to hook the right man. It doesn’t matter what it takes to get the “ideal” man, it can be done. Sarah Chalke plays the woman looking for a man. She is thirty-two and desperate to check the squares for marriage and wealth.

Chalke is outstanding in this role. She is growing as an actress and this is a good part for her. It certainly allows her more range than “Scrubs” ever did. Also good is Maria Conchita Alonso who plays her mother. These two actresses enhance the movie and make it more enjoyable and entertaining than it otherwise would have been.

So for a fun film on a cold night pick up the DVD “Maneater.” It will keep you entertained.

For the kids, and maybe some adults too, there is nothing better than a new “Scooby –Doo” DVD. Well there is a new one at your local DVD store and it is titled “Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo.”

This movie brings back the Great Dane named Scooby-Doo and the Mystery, Inc. gang which includes Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Velma. Of course it is always the big dog that saves the day.

The locale of this adventure is the “Whirlen Merlin Magic Academy.” This is a school for magicians and a place where Daphne’s sister Madelyn has been studying. But when the gang arrives for a visit with Madelyn they find that she has been troubled by strange events happening at the Academy. The gang immediately dives in to solve the mystery and let the fun begin.

A new Scooby-Doo movie is a major event for kids so get them this DVD ASAP. You will find it will hold them spellbound for the length of the movie and for the “special additions” too.

Also on DVD this week is “Gabriel,” a film about reincarnation and vampires. Chayanne stars as a man searching for his lost love, but before he can be reunited with her he has to fight a man determined to keep the lovers apart.

This is a romantic horror film of sorts with Chayanne making it something out of the ordinary.
 

 

 

 

 

©2010 Jackie K. Cooper

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