Career bit player Ricky Russert, who was in “I, Tonya” and TV’s “Outer Banks” and even the recent “MacGuyer” reboot , gets a featured role as a villain in “Off the Grid,” a Josh Duhamel star-vehicle about a scientist who MacGuyvers his way out of many a jam with the ruthless goons who want what’s in his head.
Russert isn’t the only villain. In the chain of command, he’s the guy below scientist/project director Greg Kinnear and that scientist answers to murderously impatient oligarch in charge Peter Stormare. But Russert’s Marcus is the trigger man, the “heavy,” the guy with the most black t-shirts, jackets and slimfit jeans.
And to complete the character’s look, Russert made a choice. He went full Jack White — pale, with slippery black hair, everything but the famous hat and more recent rock star dye jobs. I kept expecting him to break into “a seven nation army couldn’t hold me back.”
The movie’s generic in the extreme, a bore that sent a mostly-American cast off to Italy where the production does its best to pass for the American Southeast, some easy drive or other from Memphis (Louisiana). But if the players got a paid Italian vacation out of it, the viewer’s allowed to hope for off-the-wall turns, or jokes. Because seriously, this isn’t serious.
There’s a revolutionary energy device that Belcor is close to getting. Or was until Guy Who Knows Stuff (Duhamel) fled rather than let his work be weaponized. Kinnear plays Ranish, the former mentor all-in with Belcor, the company and the fellow who owns it (Stormare).
Mr. “Off the Grid” lives in an aged Quonset hut, mindful of not exposing himself to electronic tracking, careful to park his motorcycle in the woods outside of town when he goes in for “supplies,” a bearded, backpacked Man with No Name.
But his old mentor knows the “Red Bull/dirt bike prepper” well. That’s how Marcus (Russert) is put on the scent.
“YOU’LL find him?” Ranish chuckles. “Not if he finds you first!”
Did anybody explain that this off-the-grid guy has “special skills,” military training or whatnot? If so, I missed it. Because aside from the punji sticks and other boobytraps (yawn) he’s set for any intruders on his turf, he’s tough enough to bust heads if need be.
Our hero is careful enough not to get close to anybody in this sleepy little not-supposed-to-be-Italian town. The college bound tech teen (Michael Zapesotsky) doesn’t need to know his name, just that he can double-check his computer codes, etc. The friendly barmaid/bar-owner Josie (María Elisa Camargo)? Kept at arm’s length.
And yet, he’s still discovered. And damned quickly, it turns out.
Russert gives minion-murdering Marcus a “stands out in a crowd” personality — dolled up in black, not paying for things at the shop, threatening locals, lying to law enforcement and shooting members of the “B-Team” and “C-Team” that’s sent to help him if and when they displease him.
The character should have had a mustache. To twirl. Because Russert serves up a villainous maniacal cackle or two.
The chases — on bike or on foot — are blasé, the action beats largely dependent on “traps” we see our Guy (IMDb says that’s Duhamel’s character’s name) prep and set. The few creative ones are lost in a collection of off-the-shelf remote-controlled-explosive-devices that you see in every B-movie thriller — a light on the designer bomb, flashing lights on the hand-held control that arms it and sets it off.
The script is a cut-and-paste job — lazy plotting, dull dialogue, no twists at all.
Duhamel has character traits to play — not many, though. There’s plenty of screen time for his go-to move, running his hand through his hair. A lot.
But hell, if a Jack White look-alike is playing your pursuer, what’s HE supposed to do when his dye-job gets in his eyes? A lot?
Rating: R, violence and lots of it, profanity
Cast: Josh Duhamel, Greg Kinnear, María Elisa Camargo, Ricky Russert, Michael Zapesotsky and Peter Stormare.
Credits: Directed by Johnny Martin, scripted by Jim Agnew. A Lionsgate release.
Running time: 1:46
