By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Academy Award winning actor
Morgan Freeman caught me by surprise in Eddie Murphy’s comedy “Coming 2 America” and now again with his latest movie,
“Vanquish” from director/screenwriter
George Gallo (“Bad Boys for Life”).
“Vanquish” is a standard, crime thriller that stars Freeman as Damon, a retired cop who was shot in the line of duty and is paralyzed.
Fortunately, Damon served on the police force for several years and now receives a nice pension, plus heroes pay. Yet, looking at the palatial estate he’s living in, you would think every penny must be going towards it.
More on that later.
His caregiver Victoria, (Ruby Rose, TV’s “Batwoman”) is loyal and kind. Damon has also been considerate of her needs. Victoria has an adorable, young, and sickly daughter named Lily (Juju Journey Brener, “Miley Cyrus: Younger Now” ) and he provides for them as well. There is a catch.
While Damon knows most everything about Victoria’s past including her life as a drug courier for the Russians, Victoria just assumed that Damon’s high-flying lifestyle was all legit. It’s really not.
Damon was involved with some unscrupulous cops back in the day and has a plan to retrieve some money using Victoria’s special set of skills, but Victoria doesn’t want any part of his offer. She tells Damon that she’s given up that life for good. She has a kid to care for now.
When Damon fails to convince Victoria, she must do this favor for him, he blackmails her and kidnaps Lily. He says she won’t get Lily back unless she agrees to his plan.
Left with no choice, Victoria goes along and soon is out speeding around on her motorcycle taking care of business and taking down thugs just like old times.
There is a lot of gratuitous violence in “Vanquish” and the action scenes aren’t bad, but nothing spectacular. “Vanquish” really doesn’t offer much new that we haven’t seen many times before.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"VANQUISH"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
