Two ex-special forces soldiers must escort a group of civilians along Baghdad's "Highway of Death" to the safety of the Green Zone.
Alright, moviegoers and adrenaline junkies, let’s talk about "Hidden Strike." And by "talk," I mean let’s take a deep dive into this cinematic rollercoaster ride that you didn’t know you signed up for but are now somehow strapped into, screaming, laughing, and questioning your life choices all at once.
The Stars:
We've got Jackie Chan. You know him, you love him, you've seen him jump through more windows and roll over more cars than the local stunt double association thought was legally possible. And then there's John Cena, who went from body-slamming dudes in a wrestling ring to body-slamming his way through the action movie genre. And Chunrui Ma—she’s there too, doing something that probably seemed more significant on paper.
The Plot:
Ah, the plot. Two ex-special forces soldiers (Chan and Cena) are tasked with escorting a group of civilians along Baghdad's "Highway of Death" to the safety of the Green Zone. Sounds simple, right? You clearly haven’t watched enough movies. Because what follows is an action-packed trip that throws more curveballs than a knuckleball pitcher on a sugar high. You think it’s going to be a tense military thriller, but five minutes in, you're wondering if you took the right seat or if you wandered into an alternate dimension where ‘Rush Hour’ met ‘Fast and Furious’ at an all-you-can-eat comedy buffet.
What I Liked:
Jackie Chan. Full stop. The man is a legend. He’s still flipping and kicking like gravity is just a suggestion. The fight scenes, especially between Chan and Cena, are like watching a Rocky sequel directed by someone with ADD. Punches fly, limbs flail, and somewhere in the middle of it all, you realize you’ve been grinning like a lunatic for the last ten minutes. Plus, the corny one-liners—oh, the one-liners! Some of them are so bad, they loop right back around to being good again. Think: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s "I'll be back" crossed with a fortune cookie that’s been dipped in bourbon.
And let’s not forget the outtakes at the end. It’s the cherry on top of this absurd sundae. The flubbed lines, the missed punches—it's like seeing the bloopers reel of your life, except it’s Jackie Chan, and not you, trying to jump over a sofa and failing.
What I Disliked:
Where do I begin? How about the fact that I had to read this movie with subtitles? Look, I’m all for cultural appreciation, but if I wanted to read, I’d pick up a book. Then there are the over-the-top storylines that make less sense than trying to eat soup with a fork. At one point, I just threw my hands up and whispered, “Sure, why not?” because this movie doesn’t care about your logic—it cares about having a good time.
Let’s talk about the soap fight scene. Yes, you read that right—a soap fight scene. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you mix a bathhouse brawl with a Looney Tunes episode, here’s your answer. It’s ridiculous, it's slippery, and it’s something that, quite frankly, I could have gone my entire life without seeing. Yet, here we are. And don’t even get me started on the jetpack cement truck. Who comes up with this stuff? It's like the writers watched “The Fast and the Furious” and said, “Hold my beer.”
Some of the CGI scenes were, let’s just say, interesting. But you know what? In this movie, it fits right in. It’s like putting a clown nose on an already over-the-top circus performer—you’re not going to make it any sillier, you’re just leaning into the madness. Also, at the beginning of the movie, I couldn't help but notice the sheer number of companies listed in association with its making. It’s like they pulled together a coalition of every production company from here to Timbuktu, and I still can’t figure out if that’s a good or a bad thing.
And then there’s the backstory of our two main characters. It's as believable as me winning an Olympic gold medal in interpretive dance. But hey, it’s a comedy. Grin, bear it, and move on.
Fun Fact:
Did you know Sylvester Stallone was originally attached to this project but dropped out due to commitments with "Creed 2"? Enter John Cena. Let’s just say the transition from Rocky Balboa to WWE Champ is a jump. But like all jumps in "Hidden Strike," it's more fun not to think about it too hard.
Final Verdict:
So, here’s the bottom line: "Hidden Strike" is like a box of chocolates, if every chocolate was filled with Red Bull and sprinkled with pop rocks. It’s a movie that doesn’t make sense, doesn’t care that it doesn’t make sense, and just wants you to buckle up and enjoy the ride. It’s a 6.6/10 on the Totally Arbitrary but Deeply Thought-Out Movie Scale™.
Would I watch it again? Maybe. Would I recommend it? Absolutely—to people I want to confuse, entertain, and possibly alienate.
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