Point Break is a remake of the 1991 film of the same name starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. In this film Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) is a former motocross driver who joined the FBI following the loss of a friend during a stunt. His first case on the job involves a series of daring robberies perpetrated by thieves who seem have experience in extreme sports. Johnny figures out that these robbers are trying to complete the Ozaki Eight, a mythical set of extreme stunts put together by a legendary athlete. His investigation leads him to Bodhi (Edgar Ramirez) and his crew. Johnny infiltrates the gang, seeking evidence of their wrongdoing. But he is also attracted to their philosophies and their way of life.
The 1991 Point Break was notable for being something more than just an empty action film. In an era of action where muscled dudes with weird accents ruled the day, there came along this film that took a more philosophical approach to the genre. It built something on the relationship between Johnny Utah and Bodhi, and used surfing as a conduit through which all sorts of big themes almost inexplicably emerged. This remake, on the other hand, is all about the stunts. It mostly keeps the story, and hangs its hat on weak philosophical rumbling about man’s connection to the Earth. But all it cares about are the stunts.
This would be fine, but the stunts aren’t even very exciting. They are thrilling in theory, presenting a scale of stunt that seems downright insane. But they don’t really work on a narrative level, which makes it hard to connect with what’s going on in the movie. They jump out of a plane, fly squirrel suits down the alps, snowboard down a cliff, and do all manner of crazy things. In spite of that, none of it is particularly compelling. It’s all shot from too great a distance, the characters never really registering within the context of these stunts.
There just isn’t anything to it. The movie is empty through and through. The film recreates many of the iconic elements of the original film, but subtracts everything that made them meaningful. The characters are interchangeable. The relationships between them are devoid of anything compelling. The attempts at explaining the greater purpose behind Bodhi and his crew are downright laughable. The film ends up twisting itself into a weird shape as it tries to find a thematic connection between its boneheaded stunts.
The movie does look pretty good. It offers plenty in the way of stunning backgrounds and unique environments. But that’s also its biggest weakness. It places so much focus on where the characters are and not enough on who they are. Luke Bracey and Edgar Ramirez struggle to find emotion within all the rambling that they do. Neither actor is able to convey the intensity and passion that would justify their apparent lust for danger.
Point Break methodically lobotomizes the 1991 original. It takes a film that is more about the relationship between its main characters and turns it into a succession of empty stunts. The film didn’t really need to be Point Break. The idea of Johnny Utah and Bodhi actually weighs it down, and keeps it from doing what it really wants to do. But it takes on the property, hoping to glean some of its residual goodwill. But it doesn’t earn any of it.
My Rating:
