The Predator

<<

Now Playing

>>

For the most part, I've personally found the 'Predator' films to have a real "up-and-down" factor to them. For my money, the first one is still, hands down, the best of the bunch - mostly thanks to Schwarzenegger, but it's just more badass than the rest, in my opinion. But the series does alternate its quality quite a bit. You never know if it'll be lots of fun, or if it's just gonna suck.

This one, I hate to admit, kinda reaches this middle-ground in which I can't really recommend it highly for theatrical viewing, but it's worth checking out in another format when you get the chance. There's really not enough crazy stuff going on to warrant the "must-see" experience. But I will say this, I still managed to have fun with it.

The film opens up with a Predator attacking Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) and his regiment of Army soldiers. The Predator loses the battle, and his armor is mailed off by McKenna, ending up at his house where his kid finds it and decides it'd be a good Trick or Treating costume.

Meanwhile, McKenna is sent off on a bus with other government captives by a man named Traeger (Sterling K. Brown) when he doesn't manage to answer his questions about the Predator - which by the way he is studying for himself, thus making him the big bad government baddie of the film. But I have to give it to him, he was probably my favorite character of the film. He manages to make one wonder how much of his dialogue may have been adlibbed.

On top of that, the characters travelling on the bus are actually pretty endearing as well. It kinda brings you back to the comradery​ the first film had. It's a decent cast of characters, as well, including the likes of Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, Alfie Allen, Augusto Aguilera, and Trevante Rhodes, who really kinda steels the show. While the others are more or less goofy characters, Rhodes plays the straight man, and kinda the leader of the crew, and he's ultimately probably more likable and memorable than our lead (sorry, Holbrook).

Anyway, the whole movie kinda boils down to the Predator coming to Earth and looking for junk, killing everyone who gets in the way - at least anyone armed. It's a little less fun than the whole hunting concept that 'Predators' managed to bring back, earning a bit of admiration from yours truly on it. This one felt a little more like 'Alien vs Predator: Requiem', but actually half-decent (sorry, I just really do not like that movie). If nothing else, this can be seen as a Halloween movie (taking place largely on Halloween night), and something to just have a laugh with. It wasn't altogether special in any way, but it was a fun ride.

3/5

---