Haywire review

Though brutal in places, 'Haywire' displays a deliberately retro streak in its genre and set-up. What is new is the fantastic introduction of a believable female action star. In Gina Carano, director Steven Soderbergh has found something special, and he might just have unleashed an unstoppable cinematic presence.

The hype...
Steven Soderbergh's ongoing farewell lap of honour takes in another genre in 'Haywire': an ode to '80s action films. The pared-down premise might not inspire much excitement, but the fantasy casting of a plethora of male leads is certainly attention-grabbing. Most importantly we get to see real life Mixed Martial Arts star Gina Carano knocking the living daylights out of several high-profile actors.

The story...
Having spent years doing the dirty work for the government, highly trained intelligence operative Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) now finds herself on the run. Following a mission in Barcelona, someone high up the chain of command wants her dead.

Shaking off the initial attack by a young agent she already knows (Channing Tatum), the threats come thick and fast and Mallory is left with only one place to go... home to her father. But the conspiracy will follow her all the way, and she will have to fight back the only way she knows how - with extreme violence.

The breakdown...
There is not much depth to 'Haywire'. Soderbergh has crafted a singularly old-fashioned movie with a host of big names getting battered by Gina Carano. And by old-fashioned we mean '80s action flicks.

It's none-the-poorer for its basic premise though, and with the likes of Bourne trying to constantly update the genre, it's something of a welcome throwback. There is a distinctive look and tone to the visuals that is very much the director's trademark, but the framing of the fight sequences has an added level of realism.

This is entirely due to the breathtaking ability of Carano in front of the camera. At times her monotone delivery can be off-putting, but this is surely down to the character she is playing. If not, then her natural aura is perfectly-pitched to this movie. And yet she has a striking look and boasts undeniable charisma that may well appeal to other directors.

The other stars play second-fiddle, but still come up trumps in the more brutal sequences. The ubiquitous Michael Fassbender continues to impress, and the underrated Channing Tatum once again delivers the goods in an underwritten role. The film may veer too extremely towards the Soderbergh school of messy endings by the third act, but remains watchable throughout.

When trying to be clever, the only flaw is the unreliable script that paints with far too big a brush. The actors all give well-tuned performances, but the result can feel temperamental. We are asked to care about too many nameless individuals whose only identifiable marks are their off-screen personas.

Once it's all over though, none of this matters. You walk out with a real adrenaline rush, and are left wondering about the potential of the star who should go on to make a big impact in the future.

The verdict...
Hard-hitting Gina Carano stands out, but don't just put her down as a generic action-lead of the old-school. She can act, kick Michael Fassbender in the head and look mighty pretty in the process. A star is born.

Rating: 4/5

'Haywire'  is due to be released in the UK on 18 January 2012. Certificate: 15.