Mile 22: The Escape | Top of reviews, reviews and ratings

Peter Berg’s latest film did not get the same response from his previous works and not even his stellar cast could save it from the lethal darts of criticism.

When talking about outstanding action directors of recent years, Peter Berg is one of the names that could jump into the conversation. After Day of the Bombing – 80%, The Survivor – 61% and Deep Horizon – 83%, its ability to present sequences of fight and shootings, as well as moving stories and great testosterone and implacable protagonists has been recognized by specialists. And when it was announced that Mile 22: The Escape – 47% would be another of those projects, it was not expected less than that, but apparently the exception makes the rule.

Starring Mark Wahlberg, his frequent collaborator, such as James Silva, the leader of a special operations paramilitary team, the film follows the extraction and protection of an informant that could be the key to recovering an important load of radioactive material stolen by a group terrorist. On their way to American soil, political powers intervene in the dangerous mission turning it into one of deadly quality.

Although the plot of the film augured an exciting story of action and espionage, the execution did not finish convincing the critics. With a qualification somewhat far from approving, Mile 22: The Escape – 47% seems to be the one that inaugurates the first stumble of what had been a quite solid trajectory. The consensus coincides in the untapped talent of Mark Wahlberg turned into a kind of bad copy of Matt Damon in the Jason Bourne saga. It also does not help the chaotic filming of the filmmaker, which results in an accumulation of shots, shocks that end up stunning the spectator. Another point that negative according to film journalists is the poor development of the plot that at the slightest provocation pushes his characters to violent outbursts of violence to shoot bullets and explode cars and buildings.

Critics point out how the accelerated edition obscures the feats of the choreography of fights, coupled with silly dialogues that seek to soften the gratuitous violence that is seen on the screen, that is, the spectacle of explosions and fury overcomes ideas. The nicest reviews with the film point out that the discourse of the less aggressive characters sought to balance with the festival of explosions, blows and heavy weapons. In the end, if you are one of those who enjoy the speed of action movies, this is the movie of the weekend you were looking for.

Mile 22: The Escape – 47% divided the critics, but it is time for the audience to decide if they give their vote of confidence and approval or if they prefer to remember the first works of their director. These are the best reviews that movie has received:

Oliver Jones at New York Observer:

A film confused by all its explosion of masculinity that really does not know where it is going.

Michael Gingold in Time Out:

He makes use of his fighting moves, the ideas become incomprehensible. Everything becomes volatile, broken bones everywhere and other elements of gore in which each fight ends hand in hand.

Christy Lemire on What the Flick ?:

You have no idea what is happening. The film is over edited, and you only see that everything is shaking.

Rafer Guzman on Newsday:

It delivers a lot of action, but not much emotion. And their waste of blood comes from characters that have not been sufficiently explained.

Katie Walsh in Tribune News Service:

A disaster of incomprehensible editing, a mixture of violence with intermittent scenes of characters, shots, formats and chronological lines that push the limits of coherence and logic.

Bruce Demara in Toronto Star:

In general it is a good action and espionage movie with some good performances that make Mile 22: The Escape a fun summer movie.

Soren Anderson in Seattle Times:

It is a tough action film to gnaw and empathize. With unworthy villains, ridiculed inadvertently

Todd McCarthy at Hollywood Reporter:

There is not an ounce that over, nothing that is not essential to the urgent goal that the characters are pursuing before the clock stops.

James Berardinelli on ReelViews:

Mile 22: The Escape delivers precisely what is expected of a violent and escapist action film and does so with brevity and powerful impact.

Ty Burr at Boston Globe:

Berg and Wahlberg deliver a paramilitary thriller of implacable rhythm while they flirt to the fans with the brutality and the overload of machismo.