December 1, 2013
 
A screenplay adapted by Sylvester Stallone and starring Jason Statham is exactly what you would expect. And that’s exactly what Homefront is, which is based on a novel of the same name. It’s a pretty straightforward plot, with no twists, unfortunately. However, it’s highly entertaining and showcases just how awesome and badass Statham still is.
 
It begins with the backstory of DEA agent Phil Broker (Statham) during an undercover operation. He has successfully infiltrated a deadly drug den/motorcycle gang, when things go south during the bust. While apprehending the druglord Danny T (Chuck Zito), the suspect son is killed on site by agents.
 
Fast forward two years later, and Broker is living in a quiet town in Louisiana with his daughter, Maddy (Izabela Vidovic) after his wife has passed. He is trying to lay low after the incident, however, soon the small town knows who he is when his daughter gets into a fight in school. The boy’s mother Cassie (Kate Bosworth) is a drugged-up nutjob and refuses to believe that her son was the instigator. After her husband is made a fool of by Broker, she asks her drug lord brother Gator (James Franco) to scare Broker a little.
 
Meanwhile, Gator has an understanding with the local law enforcement that as long as he ‘brings down’ small-drug operations, he’ll be left alone to run his own meth lab. He sends some of his employees to ‘scare’ Broker at a gas station, but of course, Broker ends up beating up each and every one. Intrigued by Broker, Gator breaks into his home and finds old DEA files. He learns of Broker’s past and realizes that if he leads Danny T’s guys to Broker, he might have free run of drug distribution.
 
However, doing a little digging of his own, Broker learns all about Gator. He even finds his secret meth lab and does some meddling to ultimately destroy it. Realizing that things are heating up, Broker tries to get out before all hell breaks loose, but it’s too late. After several meetings with Danny T’s people, Gator’s girlfriend and partner Sheryl (Winona Ryder) gets some of the gang members to come to town and kill Broker. Just as Broker is packing up with Maddy, the gang attacks his home. As Maddy tries to get away, Broker, again, single-handedly kills or injuries all of the men. However, Sheryl kidnaps Maddy and Broker must go after her. It all comes to a head on a bridge in town.
 
Again, very straight-forward with no real plot twists. Franco does a good job of playing a skeevy drug dealer, while Bosworth does a good job of playing a meth-head local redneck. The daughter is somewhat irritating, but makes Statham seem even more lovable as he is kind and gentle with her. Not too much action, but fun to see Statham kick everyone’s without so much as a scratch.