INTERCEPTOR (NETFLIX) (2022)

SYNOPSIS: Meet the world's last defense. One Army captain must use her years of tactical training and military expertise when a simultaneous coordinated attack threatens the remote missile interceptor station she is in command of. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

As ironic as it sounds, it takes an almost Australian cast and crew to pull off a project liked Interceptor which involves a heroic American Army captain taking on rogue American soldiers and nuclear missiles.

To elaborate our point further, Interceptor stars Spanish actress Elsa Pataky in the lead role. But hold your horses, isn’t this supposedly an Australian production? Well to the uninitiated, Pataky is the wife of Chris Hemsworth who happens to be her personal trainer and also serves as one of the executive producers. The movie also marks the directorial debut of Australian novelist Matthew Reilly who also co-wrote the story with Stuart Beattie, a renowned Australian screenwriter behind the original Pirates of the Caribbean and Collateral.

Whether it’s Australia or American made, it doesn’t matter in the end. The flick is sort of a throwback to 80’s and early 90’s action thrillers liked Die Hard and Under Siege. The story is minimal and there’s enough crazy action to keep things going at a brief 99 minutes. In fact, there’s almost to nothing except some brief notes about interceptor bases before we see the villain strolled in shortly after the credits rolled and start mouthing some bad-ass dialogue about bombing America to pieces.

It seems liked our dear antagonist Alexander Kessel (Luke Bracey from the Point Break remake) has made a deal with the Russians and 16 nuclear missiles are directed at America unless the interceptor base which Captain JJ Collins (Pataky) are stationed at are able to intercept the missiles on time before they hit the mainland. And now it’s up to JJ and a deskbound clerk, Corporal Shah (Mayne Mehta) to save the world from psychotic villain Kessel.

You might have known Pataky from Fast Five and it’s sequels but you certainly never see her in such a kick-ass, meaty role. Patak displays enough slick combat moves and charisma to keep viewers rooting for her despite an unnecessary backstory about sexual harassment by a five-star general. Even if it’s well-intended, most viewers are not here for some political-correct lectures for sure.

On the other hand, Luke Bracey is somewhat overshadowed by his cheesy henchman, Beaver and while his character has some deep “Daddy” issues, it doesn’t really uphold the fact that he needs to resort betraying his country for the money. Chris Hemsworth actually cameos in a couple of brief scenes dressing up as Fat Thor and playing a goofy salesman.

Interceptor to sum up is a mediocre, low-budget action movie that entertains whenever JJ is sparring and exchanging blows with Kessel’s bunch of colourful henchmen. If you are in the mood for some no-brainer 80’s action flicks then this one fits the bill even though it’s released in the year 2022.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee