One of the things that have defined 2011 is that no one is safe from having a film released directly to video. Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank was the highest profile to have a film go direct to video with The Resident earlier this year; Fireflies in the Garden barely escaped that same fate with Julia Roberts and Ryan Reynolds starring. Now comes Set Up with Bruce Willis getting dumped to DVD after appearing to be going into theatres.
Sonny (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) and Vincent (Ryan Phillippe) have been friends since childhood. When they plan a diamond heist that could be their biggest score ever, Vincent betrays Sonny and thinks he’s killed him in the aftermath of the successful heist. Sonny manages to live, however, and from there his mission in life comes to one thing: revenge. Getting into the employ of a crime boss (Bruce Willis) and his henchman (Randy Couture) for another large sum in exchange for help in tracking Vincent down, Sonny has to successfully navigate the waters of a criminal underworld he’s clearly over his head in for one simple act of vengeance. Vengeance, however, isn’t quite what it seems for Sonny in the end.
It’s a fairly straight forward film that’s shockingly carried by Jackson. Jackson hasn’t had a part this strong in his career since his pseudo-biopic Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and he makes the most of it. Sonny is a man who has been wronged and has once mission on his mind: putting Vincent six feet underground. It’s a fairly stock character but Jackson has enough charisma and presence to make us care about him. He has some good lines, as well, and if the film shows anything it’s that he can carry a film on his own. Veteran actors like Ryan Phillippe and Bruce Willis are relegated to small supporting roles and the film revolves around Jackson. He performs fairly admirably in the part.
This is a decent film but it doesn’t hit anything strong enough to take it above mediocre for the most part. It’s shocking that a film with this sort of cast would bypass theatres but in terms of quality it’s not all that surprising. This is a perfunctory genre film with a slight twist that one imagines would have a hard time connecting with audiences. But it is a film to check out for one reason: Bruce Willis chewing scenery.
It’s Willis who steals the film in his small role. Used to playing the same sort of John McClane type character in nearly every film, Willis gets to chew scenery for the first time in a long time and he seems to be having a lot of fun in the part. He’s the film’s best part, obviously, and if anything it shows that Willis can play a bad guy after years of playing action heroes.
Set Up is a mediocre film with a first rate cast that doesn’t rise above its direct to video pedigree.
Presented in a Dolby Digital surround with a widescreen format, this is a good but not great presentation. It’s perfunctory but it looks like an indie with a good transfer as opposed to a studio film with a subpar one.
In terms of extras, we get the film’s Theatrical Trailer as well as those of other films from Lionsgate. A Commentary Track with Director Mike Gunther and Stunt Coordinator Kyle Woods is included. Plus there are three quick featurettes. Making Set Up is your typical making of EPK piece. You get more of the same with Interviews with the Cast and Crew. Inside the Gun Locker: The Weapons of Set Up is a quick but interesting piece about the guns used in the film. It’s only three minutes long but the film’s armorer could’ve probably spoken longer on the subject.
Lionsgate presents Set Up . Directed by Mike Gunther. Starring Bruce Willis, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Ryan Philippe, Randy Couture, Will Yun Lee, Shaun Toub, Susie Abromeit. Written by Mike Gunther and Mike Behrman. Running time: 85 minutees. Rated R. Released on DVD: September 20, 2011. Available at Amazon.com.
