About the film (courtesy of Paramount Pictures):
A tenacious loner (Henry Golding) is welcomed into an ancient Japanese clan called the Arashikage after saving the life of their heir apparent. Upon arrival in Japan, the Arashikage teach him the ways of the ninja warrior while also providing something he’s been longing for: a home. But, when secrets from his past are revealed, his honor and allegiance will be tested – even if that means losing the trust of those closest to him. Based on the iconic G.I. Joe character.
Hasbro’s G.I. Joe has come a long way from way from toys in the 1960s, to comics, books, animated television series and finally to the big screen a little more than a decade ago. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) experienced some success in their live-action film versions, but not enough to keep the franchise going. Critics weren’t too kind with either entry and the box office pulls were just ho-hum. And even with a pretty impressive roster of well-known actors, there just wasn’t enough fight to keep things going. As with everything else in the world of cinema, if you wait long enough someone will attempt to rekindle the old flame. Paramount Pictures hope that director Robert Schwentke has a few matches in his pocket for an origin story of one of the more mysterious characters of the franchise, Snake Eyes.
For starters, there’s no prerequisite for needing to see either of the prior films. Snake Eyes does a decent enough job in staying in its own lane without making you feel like you’re missing something if you are coming into this one blind or rusty on your G.I. Joe lore. This origin story does a decent enough job of introducing audiences to key characters as well as setting you up for future events.
As it turns out, Henry Golding can do action. The Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and A Simple Favor (2018) actor that has exceled in romantic comedy and mystery thriller roles, convincingly pulls of a much more physical part in Snake Eyes. There are many action sequences that involve fighting, shooting, etc and Golding doesn’t seem out of place at all. He seems to be pretty locked in to do whatever is asked of him. And for that, I’m betting we’ll see a lot range throughout his budding career.
Andrew Koji, who is no stranger to action as he’s lead in a very good series on HBO Max called Warrior, is one of the main supporting actors and he brings a definite thump to his character. The list of names continues with the likes of Iko Uwais, Peter Mensah, Úrsula Corberó and Samara Weaving. There’s no doubt that the number of bigger names has been toned down for Snake Eyes compared to the previous two releases, but that’s not to say that the quality suffered in any way, shape or form.
The evolution and story of Snake Eyes is a compelling one that anyone can get behind and follow. We learn of where he comes from and what drives him. There’s plenty of action, stunts and CGI to keep us entertained throughout. And there are some moments that do seem to drag on that would be better served on the cutting room floor. That being said, fans of the franchise shouldn’t be disappointed and newcomers will appreciate this as an adequate action film.
Coming in at 121 minutes, Snake Eyes might feel slightly bloated but you’ll have fun for most of that time. The production value and overall enjoyment factor are definitely enough to have Paramount Pictures mulling their options on continuing with more of these origin stories. That’s all contingent, of course, on whether or not a nice return on investment is realized. I’d tell you to get your tickets, grab some concessions and sit back and enjoy the entertainment. In theaters this Friday, with early showings Thursday at 7:00 PM.
