Reckless, Starring Scott Adkins

Maybe it isn’t such a good idea to double-cross an accomplice, because they will have ample time to work out in the prison gym. Devon clearly spent much of the last five and a half years pumping iron and studying martial arts. He also strenuously insists nothing happened in the showers, to the point of being creepy. Frankly, Devon is a bit slow-witted, so instead of seeking revenge, he simply asks for his cut. However, instead of money, he gets payback, often through sheer dumb luck in Elliott Montello’s Reckless, which releases on digital this Friday.

Everyone can tell Devon’s so-called “mates” set him up, even Kimber and she just met him—under very trying circumstances. She just killed one of the crooks who did him wrong, in self-defense, just as he barged into the lowlife’s office. Having her own reasons to distrust the cops, Kimber invites herself to join Devon as his new fugitive-buddy.

One by one, Devon visits members of the crew, asking for the Warren Zevon trilogy, but instead they try to kill him. The brawling gets brutal, but somehow Kimber usually strikes the fatal blow. Nevertheless, the trail of bodies starts to concern Trent, the big boss, who also happens to be a sitting member of the House of Lords. Eventually, his lieutenant recruits Bishop, the neanderthal prison shower predator, to kill Devon before he works his way up to Trent.

For Scott Adkins fans, Reckless could be described as Avengement-lite. It has similarly relentless fight sequences, but it also strives for an Elmore Leonard-esque comedic tone, somewhat in the tradition of The Debt Collector. Unforutnately, the jokes in this movie do not land with reliable frequency.

Regardless, the action is first-rate. Arguably, there is a greater sense of jeopardy in Reckless, because Devon’s martial arts chops remain a work in progress. Adkins also projects the right likable loser charisma for the lunkheaded Devon. Vinnie Jones strives for Ray Winstone-ish menace as Trent, but his villainy still better suits street level thuggery.

However, Kris Johnson adds some liveliness as DI Johnson, the Buddhist cop pursuing Devon. In a memorable face-off with Trent, the mindful copper admonishes the gangster to “let his word pass through the three gates of speech.”

There are some awkward tonal shifts, but Reckless definitely does exactly what a Scott Adkins movie is supposed to do. There are some first-rate beatdowns and it also showcases the martial artist’s leveling-up dramatic skills. Happily recommended for fans who appreciate the gritty, bone-crunching aesthetic, Reckless releases this Friday (5/22) on digital.