Review: Parker starring Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham

Parker is a fast-paced, witty action movie with plenty of well-articulated fight scenes, some which will even make you wince. With a surprisingly good narrative (for an action movie) and a finely-tuned script executed to the full by Jason Statham, it's a highly enjoyable trip to the flicks. Even Jennifer Lopez shows she's more than just a chick-flick draw at the big screen.

Parker sees Statham as the titular character - the sought after guy for any heist. When he is double crossed by a group of thieves, and left for dead on the side of the road, he prepares to go after them to seek revenge and take back what was his… and a little bit more.

Parker tracks down his prey in the wealthy Palm Beach with the help of Leslie (Jennifer Lopez), a real estate agent stuck in financial difficulty after a messy divorce. While Leslie tries to come on to Parker (including a scene where she must be checked for a wire in her underwear), Parker is all business. Lopez is in phenomenal shape as well, and you’d be forgiven for mistaking her for 32 instead of her 43 years. We discover Parker's past, just a little bit, through conveniently placed flashbacks, but we never discover anything too deep unfortunately.

Michael Chiklis of The Shield is probably the only really disappointing thing in this movie – he over-delivers his lines and in general makes us wonder if the man ever learned how to act at all. He plays the head of the gang that messed with Parker, intent on having him killed off.

Nick Nolte plays Parker’s partner in crime, and struggles to breath as he delivers his lines. Also he isn’t really utilized in this movie, more so he acts as a sounding board for Parker to move the plot along. Emma Booth plays Parker's mostly absent girlfriend, but when she is around, she is devoted and trusting and serves as the reason Statham is a good soul really.

Director Taylor Hackford has previously made The Devils Advocate and Ray, so we’re not surprised that he brings a defining quality to what could have otherwise been a boring straight-up action movie. Screenwriter John J. Laughlin was behind Black Swan and Hitchcock, so we can see where the sharp script comes from. Parker is based on the novel by Donald E. Westlake, who wrote the books behind Payback and The Grifters.

The action sequences are well delivered, and never boring. Some of the sequences allow an anticipatory build up as we’re shown Parker prepare some traps before the upcoming confrontation. More than once, you may find yourself wincing away from the screen as knives are sunk into various body parts. Also surprisingly, you may find yourself laughing out loud at the well timed one-liners by Statham too.