“Hidden Strike” (2023) Review: Jackie Chan-John Cena Team-Up Delivers Action-Packed Thrills

Review: ‘Hidden Strike’ (2023)

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July 29, 2023

Scott Waugh’s ‘Hidden Strike’ had all the potential to be a gripping and innovative action movie. With the star power of Jackie Chan and John Cena, two actors not usually associated with the new breed of action films, the movie promised an intriguing premise and thrilling action sequences. However, despite a brilliant opening and an initial build-up that showed promise, ‘Hidden Strike’ ultimately disappoints, veering off into predictable territory and relying on its big names rather than delivering a memorable story.

Riding the Sandstorm

Within the first twenty minutes of the film, Hidden Strike establishes an intriguing premise and builds excitement as it heads towards a Mad Max: Fury Road-like territory. The sandstorm sequence, with Jackie Chan driving a bus towards the storm, adds to the thrill quotient and sets high expectations for the rest of the film. With the action genre being reinvigorated in recent years, it is not surprising to see ‘Hidden Strike’ attempting to be innovative.

A Missed Opportunity

Unfortunately, the film takes a disappointing turn right after the sandstorm showdown, as it transforms into a generic action comedy. The chemistry between Cena and Chan, which had the potential for brilliance, is overshadowed by lackluster writing and dated physical comedy. The socio-political angle, which was initially hinted at with capitalism portrayed as the main villain, is tossed aside in favor of a staple villain and a predictable plot. The film squanders the opportunity to delve deeper into its intriguing premise.

It is particularly disappointing given the talent of the actors involved. Cena has proven his comedic chops in recent films, such as James Gunn’s ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘Peacemaker,’ but here he is given little to work with. Chan, on the other hand, appears disinterested, with a mostly stoic face throughout the film. The movie’s decision to sacrifice its socio-political commentary in favor of a generic action comedy is a missed opportunity.

Mediocrity Reigns

‘Hidden Strike’ falls into mediocrity for the majority of its runtime. The action, while initially exciting, fails to maintain its momentum, and the comedy lacks the clever integration seen in films like the latest ‘Mission Impossible’ installment. The film starts solid but quickly loses its grip, much like ‘Extraction 2’ released earlier this year.

Ultimately, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend ‘Hidden Strike’ to viewers. With the abundance of better action movies available, settling for mediocrity becomes unnecessary. The film may have had potential, but it ultimately falls short of delivering a memorable experience. It is always disheartening to see a film start strong and then lose its footing, and ‘Hidden Strike’ is a prime example of such a disappointment.