Review: Fortress

Wannabe crypto-currency entrepreneur and tech whiz Jesse Metcalfe visits his estranged dad Bruce Willis with hopes the old geezer will invest. Willis lives in a surprisingly hi-tech retreat for elderly citizens (which also contains the ultra hi-tech bunker of the film’s title) and isn’t overly invested in any father-son bonding, let alone crypto. However, before long father and son will have bigger problems on their hands. Armed mercenaries led by a figure from Willis’ past (Chad Michael Murray) storm the retreat. They’re looking for Willis…but why? Shannen Doherty plays a senior military figure (!), Michael Sirow plays a supremely annoying ranger at the retreat, Sean Kanan is a goon, and Kelly Greyson is an employee at the retreat.

 

Director James Cullen Bressack (“Killing Field”) and screenwriter Alan Horsnail (“Midnight in the Switchgrass”) combine to make one of the lesser of Bruce Willis’ recent output, which is really saying something. This cheap, uninspired 2021 film takes a bunch of woefully miscast actors and a relatively game Jesse Metcalfe and throws them into a slow, clichéd affair. This dull, woefully inadequate wannabe “Die Hard” doesn’t even feature the villain until 45 minutes in. It’s not a long film either, so it leaves quite a big hole. The cinematography/scenery is nice and Metcalfe (who seemed to be popular for a few seconds) tries to give it something credible, but this is a loser. It’s basically “Die Hard” with Willis now playing the Bonnie Bedelia part.

 

I know none of the actors here are in their prime, but it’s still sad to see some recognisable faces here. I know Sean Kanan is no Al Pacino, but surely he can do better than these colourless henchman roles he’s been getting. I assume Shannen Doherty has medical bills to pay, as she could definitely do better kinds of projects than this. She’s woefully miscast as an experienced military woman. Even more miscast is former heartthrob Chad Michael Murray as our main villain. He gives off zero menace or intimidating vibes. The awful dialogue doesn’t help him. Worst of all is an instantaneously irritating Michael Sirow, who seems to come in from a completely different action-comedy film (Fun fact: He’s even worse in the sequel “Sniper’s Eye”). Of those I didn’t recognise, someone named Kelly Gregson fumbles an English accent (and not just because her character is faking it) and can’t act a lick. She sure is fit, just not fit to be an actress. Her best moments are when she’s in action and silent. As for Willis, some of his scenes suggest he and the other actors aren’t really in the same space at the same time, and some of his scenes with Metcalfe bizarrely seem like he’s reading from an entirely different script. Their interplay doesn’t flow at all. I know they’re playing a father and son who aren’t on the same page, but I don’t think it was meant to be literal. I guess with Willis’ condition, you get what you get and have to run with it. Horsnail’s script (based on a story by the controversial duo of Randall Emmett and actor Emile Hirsch) definitely seems to favour short, sharp pieces of dialogue for him, which makes sense under the circumstances. I feel for Metcalfe, as these conditions would’ve made it difficult for him to play his part as well.

 

Bargain bin “Die Hard” that doesn’t convince on any level, despite a relatively committed turn by Jesse Metcalfe. This is…sad.   

 

Rating: D+

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