Shelter
Film
Let me put this bluntly, this is the kind of movie where you know exactly what you're getting into. A Ric Roman Waugh popcorn action flick starring Jason Statham as a mysterious graybeard begrudgingly thrown back into the fray due to some extenuating circumstances. That sounds pretty familiar, right? Statham's first line of the movie is a gruff "what're you looking at" directed at his dog. I mean, come on, it simply doesn't get more Statham than that! But even in the midst of the predictable rewrapping of Ric Roman Waugh's vision and Statham's performance, there's something understated about Shelter that helps it just work. Making this one of those films that you've definitely seen before become much more entertaining than I expected it to be.
Clearly inspired by classic action films over the years, Ward Parry's screenplay, is a kaleidoscope of its predecessors. Reflecting and refracting enough to resemble films such as John Wick, The Bourne Identity, and Terminator 2: Judgement Day while also retaining a distinct style that fits. Parry's dialogue evokes Keanu Reeves' taciturn Wick, a role which Statham often excels in, and there's even a pulse pounding nightclub sequence that might be pulled directly from Chad Stahelski's John Wick franchise. Statham's Michael Mason, an ex-operative of a highly skilled MI6 branch called Black Kites, even engages in a fight with a broken piece of wood, which Ric Roman Waugh directs with a handheld, stylistically matching the famous pen fight from The Bourne Identity. It's evident that Ric Roman Waugh is a student of the game and is pulling what works best from prior films, even if Shelter doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of its predecessors. But even with all of these pop-culture callbacks, Shelter finds ways to still be exciting in its own right. The buildup of tension throughout the film is done wonderfully, often coming to an explosive conclusion that preys on our own expectations of predictability.
Of course, Shelter isn't all been-there-seen-that. Instead of leaning into the neon-laden clubs and intricate action choreography of Stahelski's films, Waugh's film opts for the quiet countryside of the Scottish Isles where Mason resides in hiding from MI6's surveillance system. The pulsing score from David Buckley could very well be from the club sequences of John Wick, but its juxtaposition with the calm of the country works wonders with its catchy beats and adrenaline fueling thumps. While in this reclusive state, Mason saves a young girl, Jessie (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) that had been helping deliver supplies to his island, which launches both of them into a winding action-packed path to survival. The duo of Statham and Breathnach is how Shelter really defies expectations. Their chemistry is undeniably heartwarming, providing an uncle-niece relationship that flourishes when the two actors share the screen. Their shared warmth, in turn, elevates the stakes of an otherwise clunky and contrived story that not even a villainous Bill Nighy can really save. Filled with macguffins like "self-deleting code", superfluous police forces led by Naomie Ackie, and classic deus ex machina, the story leaves a lot to be desired. These moments often feel like random plot devices to force the protagonist into the extreme circumstances that take a bit to erupt, even serving to distract from the core relationship of the film. Because Statham and Breathnach do a lot of the heavy lifting, rooting the film in an earnest relationship that makes the action all the more fun to watch, while Waugh's direction keeps the film moving and the adrenaline pumping. Even if Shelter has its eye-rolling moments, it's still a complete blast to watch and colors outside the lines enough to be interesting in its own right, while adhering to the classic Statham action movie stereotype.
Froth
Ric Roman Waugh certainly has a filmmaking formula, or style if you will, and so does Statham, both of which include kicking a lot of ass and leaving the dialogue for some other time. That is unless we're talking about Jason Statham in Spy which is an incredibly underrated comedic turn from the action star. Just saying. Nevertheless, I felt strongly about having a brew from Formula Brewing, for obvious reasons, which was the perfect choice for Shelter. Formula Brewing has a solid spread of styles but I find their IPA's to be downright superb. They also have great pizza but that's for another blog. For this slice of action I enjoyed their American DDH IPA, Gesture to the Sky, which is a wonderful choice for all occasions. It's definitely a strong brew, coming in at 7.2% ABV and tasting like every pinch of it, it can be slightly overwhelming. Luckily, it has a smooth, medium body along with a delicious hoppy and tropical flavor to balance it all out.
