Bullet Train

Actually, hitman Ladybug (Brad Pitt) doesn't feel like going to his new job, where he has to fill in for a colleague who has dropped out. But now, willy-nilly, he has to come into possession of a mysterious suitcase on a Japanese bullet train. Too bad he is not the only one who is after the suitcase and its valuable contents. It doesn't take long for the train to become the scene of several bloody battles between opponents from all over the world. In the process, the train heads inexorably toward a gigantic showdown that even a pro like Ladybug can't foresee....

Based on a novel by Kotaro Isaka, "Deadpool 2" director David Leitch has directed "Bullet Train", a fun as well as bloody action thriller that has clearly been influenced by the works of Quentin Tarantino. The dialogues obviously try to be in the same league as Tarantino's in terms of coolness and cleverness, but they only succeed to a limited extent. Now that's not to say that they aren't fun to watch. I was amused again and again - both in the dialogues and in the great choreographed fight sequences. Nevertheless, the whole thing just somehow seems moderately well copied, which leaves a slightly bland aftertaste.

I really liked the entire ensemble, which is repeatedly spiced up with smaller cameo appearances. Brad Pitt is just great as a down-on-his-luck hitman, as is Joey King as a manipulative Ice Cold Angel or Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry as a very mismatched pair of brothers with very bloody reputations. There is a great joy in acting in all of them, which helps the somewhat too long film get over its weaker moments.

Whenever there is a look into the past and the story takes place outside the train, the weaknesses of the script become especially noticeable. But when it goes through the individual cars of the Bullet Train, the pacing and entertainment value work really well. Does the whole thing make sense? Not really! But it doesn't really matter. What the film wants to offer - fast-paced action served up with plenty of jet-black humor - it delivers on quite a high level. If David Leitch would have done without some unnecessary baggage on this trip through Japan, the signals along the way would certainly have been set to "Kult". "Bullet Train" does not reach that level. But who simply wants to see good action and likes the humor of the "Deadpool" films, can confidently buy a ticket for this murderous ride on the high-speed train. Worth seeing!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp