Man On A Ledge reviewed by The Prince

Is this helpful, or just another way of dumbing things down for the audience? And could that be said for the whole movie?

Is Man On A Ledge trying to mask itself as a much smarter film than it is? Or is it aware it’s just a ‘more fun’ (perhaps ‘mainstreamed’) version of movies that it may resemble?

So many questions! Most probably not making sense!

Regardless, Man On A Ledge will remind you of more than a couple of different movies, even from the trailer. (I asked lead star Sam Worthington about this – a very awkward way to start a conversation! Check it out HERE) It sees a jailed ex-cop break out of prison, only to rent a hotel room, open the window and scream innocence before promising to publically commit suicide. But surely that’s not it. At least that what the police negotiator thinks; and she’s right. Not too far away, a secret heist is being executed; one that should be attracting a lot of attention…if it weren’t for the man on a ledge.

Wow – not bad! I wrote that myself. Didn’t copy and paste or nothing.

It’s fun. I wouldn’t say that it’s meant to be, but why else, in a serious crime movie, would there be a need for us to watch a (in fairness, very good looking) woman change from her underwear into a tight leather outfit that would make Catwoman jealous (this makes no sense if you haven’t seen it, but just know that it’s sadly unnecessary).

That’s not the only example, but like I said; I don’t think it wasn’t meant to be fun and I’m not going to criticise a movie for trying to be something that it never wanted to. Man On A Ledge does try to walk in both worlds though; and it doesn’t get away with that.

Our Sam is still struggling with that pesky American accent. In Avatar, he was a futuristic soldier; Clash Of The Titans he is an ancient, fantasy warrior surrounded by an international cast (accents were the least of that movies problems) – here, he is an American cop born and raised in America; he can’t get away with it here.

Everyone else here does what they need to in order to get paid: Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell and ‘bad guy’ Ed Harris.

It’s not exactly a bad movie, but might end up being one of the more “meh” cinema experiences of your year.

And while we mentioned it earlier, here’s hoping Wrath Of The Titans ends up being the movie Clash didn’t.

2½ stars.

-The Prince
(@Mitch_Lewis)