by Henry Pham
For your information, War Machine is an all-new science fiction action movie. It has nothing to do with Don Cheadle’s character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though there are rumours about the studio making a film that focuses on that character. No word of mouth has been made as of 2026. This film is written and directed by Patrick Hughes, who is known for directing The Hitman’s Bodyguard and its sequel (for which both of them featured superhero actors Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson in their leading roles). It follows the final recruits of a grueling special ops boot camp who encounter a deadly force from beyond this world.
Alan Ritchson, best known for his role as Jack Reacher in the Amazon series Reacher, plays an unnamed Staff Sergeant (credited as “81”) whose primary objective is to overcome his past and survive after an Army Rangers training mission goes wrong. Ritchson delivers a strong performance as the lead, and while his character development follows familiar patterns. It makes his role relatable and easy to support. Although he is an established television actor and supporting movie actor, this film offers him his most significant opportunity yet to lead a feature film, following previous supporting roles in movies.
Under Patrick’s direction, the film blends multiple genres and pays homage to 1980s science fiction classics such as Predator and Robocop. The story centers on a special ops team fighting for survival against alien threats, a familiar premise in sci-fi action. While the narrative is limited, the film compensates with a strong mix of practical and digital effects, with some engaging action sequences that are intense and graphic. The visuals, sound, and CGI are well executed. The ending provides a satisfying conclusion to Ritchson’s character arc. However, the pacing in the climax and final act is messy and slows the film, while the supporting characters lack development despite a talented cast that includes Dennis Quaid, Stephen James, Jai Courtney, and Esai Morales.
Even though it’s a Netflix film, as mentioned in my introduction, War Machine is a fun, exhilarating science-fiction movie featuring Alan Ritchson. It isn’t bad, but it isn’t perfect either. I enjoyed seeing Alan Ritchson at the movies, theatrically and digitally. Honestly, I was looking forward to watching this in theaters, as this looks very cinematic to me. Sadly, it didn’t get a chance to shine in theaters. Instead, we get some big studio films and big-budget films in lieu of some films offered by independent studios or those with low budgets, such as many other interesting films, like KPop Demon Hunters. If only Netflix executives would release this, along with some of their films, in theaters, then it would become an instant success. The film runs for 108 minutes.
Comments