Who let the Dog out? (Unleashed (DVD))

Name: Ailran

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Product:	Unleashed (DVD)
Date:	18.01.08 (115 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some nice action scenes, entertaining plot.

Disadvantages: Not entertaining enough if martial arts isnt your thing, Li as bland as ever

Luc Besson (Nikita, Fifth Element) scripts a curious enigma of a film here. A French star writer/director writing a film set in Glasgow (although it could be anywhere and there is only one mention of Glasgow in the whole film!) about two Americans living there and starring Jet Li, an Asian superstar yet to really make it big in Hollywood. It sounds like a right dogs dinner and the story is even more of a mixed bag, a mix that includes martial arts (from Li), gangsters (Bob Hoskins and his gang) and inspirational drama (Li, Morgan Freeman and Kerry Condon). As such, while it is fairly enjoyable it will never completely satisfy any fans of each of the genres.

Danny (Li) is Bart's (Hoskins) secret weapon, he keeps him in a cage and wearing a large metal collar and has done ever since he was a small kid, 'he is my dog' Bart says and he treats him like one. The only time he gets to come out of the cage is when Bart is having problems collecting money from those who owe him money. Is one of them doesn't want to pay up then Bart drags Danny along and threatens to remove the collar if they don't pay what they owe, then and there.
If the collar is removed a change comes over Danny, he becomes a whirlwind of fists, elbow, legs and head. A virtual one man killing machine that attacks when ordered and doesn't stop until Bart tells him to.
While the collar is on though Danny is subdued, quiet, child like and even comes across as slightly retarded, a completely different person from his fighting persona.

He knows no other life until a job in an antiques warehouse brings him into contact with Sam (Morgan Freeman), a blind piano tuner. The kindness in his voice and the sound of the piano brings a change over Danny and he misses his cue for action and suffers the full rage of Bart. As they leave the warehouse their car is involved in a big accident and Danny thinks he is the only survivor, he wanders around and eventually finds his way back to Sam and takes him back to his place, where he lives with his daughter, Victoria (Kerry Condon), an accomplished piano student who has come form America to study at a music school in Glasgow.

Danny finally starts to experience life, realising there is a lot he has missed and a lot he has never seen. He begins to open up and relate to others.
Unknown to him though Bart survived the crash as well and when he discovers Danny is still alive he is determined to get his 'dog' (The film is also known as 'Danny the Dog') back, especially after his big success in a brutal, to the death combat competition.
Will he find Danny? Will Danny escape his life of servitude and violence and will his newfound family survive their encounter with him?

While Unleashed is not a great film, too much mixing of genres making it unsatisfying all in all, there are some very watchable scenes and some great martial arts fights. The first meeting between the blind Freeman and the childlike innocence of Li is very poetic and moving, the man who cannot see meeting the man who has no idea of social interaction in a non violent way!
Danny's first meal with Sam and Victoria and his first movie are both incredibly well written and acted, all these scenes show a different side to Jet Li. Generally his acting in English speaking roles is bordering on awful and here he does rise above that, but mainly because he has very few lines to speak at all, it is odd though as he was very good in Hero, obviously speaking and acting in his own language gives him more scope to actually act, or of course it could be that Western movie makers want him just for his skills in the martial arts rather than his acting and write his character in a very limited way!

Funny how the best scenes are the non martial arts one! I would have never thought that before going to see it, and this isn't to say that the fight scenes are bad either, the opening scene collision between him and a group of thugs is one of the most vicious I have seen in a mainstream movie (though it is nothing compared to Ong-Bak), with one really 'push back into your seat, cringing moment' in it. The first arena fight and the big 'pit' fight also being well worth seeing if you like that kind of thing. They all show off Li's tremendous skills. Of course story wise it is unlikely, if nigh impossible, that he would be as good as he is at these martial arts but that is another thing all together and I cannot go into that without ruining the film!)

Bob Hoskins hasn't been in anything I've seen since Felicia's Journey a while back now and here is puts on a show stealing performance. He dominates every single scene he is in. He may not have top billing but he is the star of the film. He is Bart, a violent, nasty man who cares about nothing other than himself and money. His treatment of everyone around you just makes you loathe the man and this is what you want form a villain. He also manages to walk that very thin line and not topple over it to become an over the top villain. He is believable and that makes the film all the better.

Morgan Freeman and Kerry Condon are also both very good. Morgan makes you not only believe he is blind but portrays Sam as a man who lives life on his terms and refuses to adjust in any way due to his blindness. While Condon is bright, breezy and the total opposite to Danny, their difference making their scenes together all the better. She is the perfect foil for Danny's innocence.

So question is, is this worth seeing? Over all I would say yes, just about, if you are a fan of martial arts films or of Hoskins, or just want to dip your toes into the martial arts genre without being subjected to a whole film full of awful plot and non stop fights.

Summary: A film to only see as a last resort, it may just surprise you though.