ONE RANGER

(director/writer: Jesse V. Johnson; cinematographer: Simon Rowling; editor: Matthew Lorentz; music: Sean Murray; cast: Thomas Jane (Alex Tyree), Dean Jagger (Declan McBride), Dominique Tipper (Jennifer Smith), John Malkovich (Geddes), Rachel Wilde (Angel), Jess Liaude (Oleg Jakovenko), Patrick Bergin (Doc), Nick Moran (Yuri the Cossack), Gregory Zaragoza (Tom Worth), Alena Gerber (Carmen), James Oliver Wheatley (Gor); Runtime: 95; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Corey Large/Bernie Gewissler; Lionsgate; 2023)

“Looks as if it’s an old-fashioned Western.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Stuntman turned writer-director Jesse V. Johnson (“Avengement”/”Hell Hath No Fury”) shoots this mindless political thriller as an action pic, even though it looks like it could be a Western. But there’s no argument over its mediocrity.
 
The political terrorist, a former IRA member, now a freelance terrorist, Declan McBride Dean Jagger), robs a bank with his gang in El Paso,Texas and escapes. But is captured in Mexico, until he escapes and kills a Texas deputy. Word is that he’s run away to London and planning to place a bomb there. Thereby British Intelligence agent Jennifer Smith (Dominique Tipper) and her surly boss Geddes (John Malkovich) request that the tough Texas Ranger Alex Tyree (Thomas Jane), who foiled the bank robbery and is pissed his deputy partner was killed, go track down the suspect in London. Before you can say ‘cheerio, mate,’ Alex is in London engaging in gunfights and hand-to-hand combat with bad guys such as McBride’s current gang member, the French martial artist Oleg (Jess Liaude).

If you are into films that might not make much sense but the fist-fighting stuntmen keep the action cooking, this one is it.

It looks as if it’s an old-fashioned Western.




REVIEWED ON 5/8/2023  GRADE: C