DVD review: Parker

What’s the story? Parker is a character created by author Donald E. Westlake's under his famous pseudonym of Richard Stark. The author passed away in 2008. Our hero, Parker, is a crook. But after he is shot and left for dead by his fellow gang members, he goes on the revenge path, tracking them to Florida’s wealthy Palm Beach. Here he assumes a disguise and plots to steal the haul from their latest robbery with the help of a local estate agent. 

 

Who’s in it? Jason Statham is Parker and Jennifer Lopez plays the part of Leslie Rodgers, the estate agent who offers to help him if he can share some of his takings with her. Michael Chiklis from TV’s The Shield is Melander, one of the fellow thieves who manages to get Parker slightly aggravated. Nick Nolte mumbles his way through his role as Hurley, one of Parker’s friends. 

 

Who’s the director? Taylor Hackford who is best known for directing Jamie Foxx to Oscar glory for Ray.

 

What will you remember? Jennifer Lopez doing something without Pitbull.

What’s the best scene? There’s a fight scene in Parker’s apartment that is quite memorable. Let’s just say the apartment is not on the ground floor.

 

What’s the best line? 

Leslie Rodgers: How do you sleep at night? 

Parker: I don't drink coffee after 7. 

 

What other movies does it compare with? Any other Jason Statham movie from recent memory…it’s not a bad thing though...when The Stath is having fun, the viewer has fun… 

 

With what piece of information can you impress your friends? Parker calls his girlfriend and her phone displays a caller ID of (504) 723-2343, which, when Googled, is the phone number of a Louisiana film crew person with the last name of Parker (who doesn't appear to have worked on this movie).

 

What type of …………………………… would this movie be? 

Car: One used by someone fleeing from the authorities… No other movie has had the main character “swop” cars as often as this one.

Animal: A wounded lion...cast out by the pride, he’s still strong and can fend for himself.

Kid at school: The one who silently watches how a kid gets bullied and then exacts revenge on his part without being asked to

Toy: A chewed upon action figure 

Famous person: Bruce Springsteen or The Boss as he’s also known. Simply because Statham seems to be The Boss when it comes to this genre of movie. 

 

What did others have to say?

 

An odd choice for director Taylor Hackford, the hard-boiled edge might be more than a little undercooked, but the new Parker is still plenty of violent, nasty, fun. - Total Film

 

Like Parker’s robberies, it isn’t entirely successful, but Statham and Lopez make enticingly mismatched partners in crime. - Empire Online

 

Statham’s role doesn’t demand greater depth than he’s shown in earlier genre pictures, but he makes a convincingly bruised protagonist. The movie’s biggest surprise is the performance of Jennifer Lopez. - www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

RATING: 6

 

- Andrew Campbell