Though it shares a title with the original starring Jamie Foxx and Jake Gyllenhaal and involves the American military that is where the similarities end. Don’t expect a sequel to that film as you will be disappointed as this is a straight to video…though don’t give up just yet as it is not as dreadful as that type of film usually is.
Combine the fact that this is his third tour in Afghanistan and that his wife back home is pregnant, Corporal Chris Merrimette (Josh Kelly – Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) is ready to go home. Just when it looks like he can do that the leader of his division is killed and he is named his replacement. Merrimette is really disillusioned now as he just wanted to ride out his remaining time and get home in one piece. He did not need or welcome the added burden of leadership.
His leadership is tested right off the bat when an Afghani soldier is added to the division much to the chagrin of Kettner (Bokeen Woodbine – Ray, The Rock), an experienced soldier who Merrimette expected to be named leader. Merrimette smoothes over this bump in the road just as he is given his unit’s first assignment. They are to bring supplies to a remote outpost and will have to travel through Taliban controlled territory to get there. It is not an easy assignment.
While stopped to inspect some road side debris, Merrimette and his men are flagged down by a small Army SEAL unit. They are in the midst of transporting an Afghan woman named Anoosh (Cassie Layton – first film), who due to her defiance of the Taliban is of great international importance. The leader of the SEAL unit, Fox (Cole Hauser – Good Will Hunting, 2 Fast 2 Furious), tells Merrimette they have to abandon their mission and help with the SEAL’s.
Unlike the first film this is really an action film in that it is like 75 percent action with much less dialogue. So, if that is your thing you will enjoy this more. Though it is fairly low budget compared to the big summer flicks of the ilk the action still comes off pretty well.
Less attention is paid to dialogue and character development yet the actors still turn in decent performances. It does really show how hard this war (and all of them for different reasons) is on the soldiers and watching it becomes clear how emotional or psychological damage like PTSD happens. The sacrifice made for us is obvious.
Special Features:
-Digital Copy
-Deleted Scenes