by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Who is ready for a brand new Liam Neeson action thriller coming your way on Netflix? I know I (kind of) am! I am a big fan of Neeson, as he is a great talent. Many younger people probably do not even realize there was pre-Taken Neeson because that has completely defined him as of late. You seldom get something like Ordinary Love, which highlights his dramatic chops. Heck… this is the man from Schindler’s List, mind you. But now audiences get an action flick or thriller from Neeson every year. It has sort of become its own genre. But for every Taken, we get one or two subpar efforts that feel so lazy. I love The Grey, which is a great survival film infused with themes about faith… but most remember it as Taken with wolves.
But where does The Ice Road land on this spectrum of Neeson efforts?
Writer-director Jonathan Hensleigh gives audiences a generally forgettable and silly thriller that is easily consumed on Netflix. But what about this film makes it so forgettable? First off, the direction is consistently flat and uninspired. The camera work is standard, and the film possesses a look ripped right out of a television show (but not one from a premium channel). Then you have the effects. For a film centered on thrills and action set pieces, they are poorly rendered. The CGI ice looks artificial and all uses of fire are laughably bad. Do not even get me started on that terrible looking avalanche that comes tumbling down onto the lead characters… and onto my enjoyment of the scene. This film feels cheaply made and rushed into post production because Netflix wanted to get it out to the public. But what was the rush? This film certainly does not garner that level of excitement.
But what about Hensleigh’s writing? Can that make up for the sloppy, if not zippy, thriller?
This script feels shaky. None of the characters have any depth and few have strongly written motivations that extend beyond the tropes they lean on… but we will get to that soon. What about the story? Many of the story beats felt forced in an attempt to continue building situations that will create some cheesy action or thrills (of which the film delivers a few). There are some “plot twists” that feel so predictable that it is even hard to call them “twists.” Someone from the company is joining this convoy of ice truckers. You know exactly what their real motivations are. Neeson’s brother in the film deals with PTSD and other mental health issues, but this film feels so insensitive in how they handle it. Then you have the regular visits to our captured miners which feel forced and lacking in any real human characters. Why even bother? I came for the Neeson anyway, so let us just focus on him. But the biggest fault of this writer’s script is that everything feels telegraphed and uninspired.
Neeson must deliver though, right? He sure does. Good for us!
Neeson is scowling and cranky as he takes on this job with his brother. Their connection might not be beautifully written, but Neeson provides enough charisma and acting skill to make it work better with co-star Marcus Thomas. Neeson holds his own in the action sequences and gives a presence that helps carry the film forward. Laurence Fishburne is charismatic and engaging as ever… but you should not get attached or get your hopes up. Amber Midthunder portrays another trucker with plenty of mystery and spunk, so she is a fun and memorable addition to the cast. Then you have a company man played by another Liam Neeson… I mean Benjamin Walker. He plays his role more with a smirk as he realizes how silly this movie really is.
When it comes to sitting down and turning on Netflix, will you be turning on The Ice Road?
I guess it comes down to how much you love Neeson and big silly action thrillers. If you’re into this type of movie, you will have a fun time on their treacherous adventure. If you’re not, then you have thousands of other things you can stream right now on Netflix.
Grade: C-