Although veering into the absurd at times, Snitch is still a surprisingly solid watch from Felon writer-director and former stuntman Ric Roman Waugh that plays to Johnson’s strengths for those still wanting to see the actor triumph over adversity and dispel with some baddies.
As synopses go, first read suggests this film is way farfetched before viewing even begins; a father going undercover (and it even being authorised) for the DEA, in order to free his naïve teenage son who is in line for a lengthy prison term after being part of a drug deal. Actually, Johnson plays John Matthews, an influential businessman who uses his company’s haulage business resources to assist drug running between the US and Mexico so that he can help deliver one of the bigger fish as part of his son’s release. In this respect, believability is still intact, and Johnson instantly wins us over in his character’s attempts to take on Goliath. The action is a little more realistic with Johnson taking some blows rather than knocking seven bells out of several bodies at once with apparent ease.
Johnson actually surprises all by delivering some of his finest and earnest work to date in this largely less physical part. In fact it’s a relief that he’s a bog standard businessman man and not some former government agent since retired. In this respect, you are kept guessing as to how things will pan out and whether this father can keep his nerve when faced with the big guns. There is also a healthy element of vulnerability to Johnson’s character that is also refreshing to see him portray. The start does play to each and every cliché in the book but Waugh nicely balances out action with a human emotion, resulting a stirring ride.
Nevertheless, the casting is well done and there is a nice character arc at play for Jon Bernthal as two-time criminal and family man Daniel on the way to his third strike out who is conned into helping Matthews by introducing him to his drug world connections. Sarandon’s on-off part could have been played by anyone but she at least lends another big-hitting name to the film.
Overall Snitch aims to entertain and yank a parental heartstring. It also shows everyone involved in the film in a good light, especially Johnson as comfortable in a less physically demanding part as well as opening up other possibilities for the actor. It’s just as events unfold, it lessens the effect (to make some think twice about drug dealing in the US in particular) and with things becoming a little incredulous, cultivates in a forehead-slapping ending that does raise the odd snigger. Still, Johnson is always an appealing presence on screen, whatever he is doing, especially when putting wrongs to right with gutsy determination.
[Rating:3.5/5]