CAST: Jackie Chan, and John Cena

DIRECTOR: Scott Waugh

Despite its initial lack of success in theaters and negative reviews from critics and viewers, a 5-year-old action comedy film, known by multiple titles, has become the most popular movie on Netflix worldwide. Titled “Hidden Strike,” the film is currently outperforming other Netflix originals such as “They Cloned Tyrone,” “Happiness for Beginners,” and “Extraction 2” on the streamer’s weekly Top 10 movies chart. This unexpected success can be attributed to the presence of its two well-known actors, Jackie Chan, and John Cena. With a staggering 22 million views, “Hidden Strike” has become the most-watched Netflix movie globally this week.

In the film, the humor primarily stems from the peculiar nature of its presentation rather than the jokes themselves. Early on in the movie, there is a particularly unusual character introduction that stands out as one of the strangest on-screen moments in recent memory.

Initially, the film introduces Jackie Chan’s character, Luo Feng, in a more serious manner. However, the tone quickly shifts as we are transported to a different location where we witness John Cena’s character, Chris Van Horne, engaging in a transaction with a group of armed individuals in the middle of a desert. However, this depiction of a desert is far from realistic; instead, it is a cartoonish CGI representation that fails to create a sense of the characters actually being present in the same environment or having genuine interactions.

Unfortunately, this aspect of the film, which could have added an element of absurdity and made it more unique, does not play a significant role in the overall plot. As a result, the movie ultimately falls into the trap of being consistently dull and unmemorable, which is the worst possible outcome for an action film.

The story revolves around two ex-special forces soldiers who are unexpectedly brought together to achieve a common objective. Their mission takes place on the notorious “Highway of Death” in Baghdad, where they must confront poorly developed antagonists. Initially, Chris was a member of a mercenary group on the opposing side, but deep down, he is portrayed as a morally upright character. This is evident when he engages in a game of catch with a child and demonstrates a vague concern for the troubled state of the region where he works as a hired gun. However, after being betrayed, Chris joins forces with Luo, forming an unconventional duo. Together, they encounter a range of adversaries who are determined to eliminate them.

The movie takes approximately an hour before the main characters meet, which is supposed to be the central premise. However, this extended buildup feels like it is merely filling time.

The first scene they share is characterized by slapstick humor reminiscent of the Rush Hour films. While the Rush Hour films may not be considered the pinnacle of action cinema, they at least had a grounded reality that added weight to the jokes.

In contrast, when the main characters are pinned down and bullets are supposedly flying around them, the lack of realism makes the situation feel stiff rather than silly. The attempt to create a sense of camaraderie between the characters feels flimsy and forced, failing to convincingly endear them to the audience. It is particularly concerning when the blooper reel during the credits shows that the actors have better chemistry and comedic timing than anything in the actual film.

Streams on Netflix