Samaritan, 2022.
Directed by Julius Avery.
Starring Sylvester Stallone, Javon Walton, Pilou Asbæk, Dascha Polanco, Moisés Arias, Martin Starr, Jared Odrick, Michael Aaron Milligan, Sophia Tatum, Michael Aaron Milligan, Henry G. Sanders, Abraham Clinkscales, Shameik Moore, Frederick Williams, Kevin Mikal Curry, Roger Payano, Dwayne A. Thomas, and Aria Seymore.
SYNOPSIS:
A young boy learns that a superhero who was thought to have gone missing after an epic battle twenty years ago may in fact still be around.
Unlike most superhero movies, Samaritan doesn’t have much source material to draw from. This gives Overlord director Julius Avery (using a script from Escape Room screenwriter Bragi F. Schut, who also created the digital comic book series Astro City, which the film is based on despite not being credited as such) a great deal of subversive freedom. However, it’s questionable if they take full advantage of that (it appears to be a straight adaptation of the first comic book issue but changes Astro City to Granite City). If one has to do digging on the Internet to find out where this story comes from (again, the creator doesn’t seem too interested in promoting that the movie is technically based on a comic book), it’s logical to assume that there are no shackles in the writing process.
The PG-13 rating also makes sense; that’s the key demographic here. There’s a grand reveal that most adults should have figured out relatively early. In contrast, children and teenagers (whether they also pick up on what’s happening or not) will find more substance in the overall message that the twist provides. The reason is that while Samaritan advertises Sylvester Stallone as the lead, the story centers on 13-year-old Sam Cleary (played with wide-smile excitement by Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton). This bullied kid obsesses over a theory posing that legendary superhero Samaritan is still alive.
A quick prologue (utilizing some ugly as sin, comic book-inspired animation that fortunately never returns) set 25 years ago breaks down the story of two gifted beings; Samaritan and Nemesis. The gist is that they fought for good, at least until society became terrified of having superhumans around to oversee the world they live in, and decided to burn a family house down, which killed the parents rather than either of the brothers. As a result, Nemesis became fueled by vengeance and turned to a life of anarchy, going as far as crafting a destructive hammer from hatred and rage. Eventually, Samaritan and Nemesis battle and are never seen again, presumed to both be dead.
In the present day, Sam uses the research of online podcaster/journalist Albert Casler (Martin Starr) to seek out individuals that could secretly be Samaritan living out the rest of his days doing anything but fighting crime. Albert mostly laughs off Sam’s theories, but that doesn’t dissuade him. Nevertheless, Sam begins suspecting that his apartment complex neighbor Joe Smith (Sylvester Stallone, wisely given short bursts of dialogue, instead directed to carry the role through intimidation and physicality) upon having enough of watching the kids get bullied, stepping in and hilariously beating down some teenagers (nearly every punch or shove launches enemies flying here, regardless of height or age).
Due to Samaritan primarily functioning from the perspective of Sam (before the third act takes on something more formulaic), the boy’s curious wonder is infectious. Sam pesters Joe about his powers and why he stopped fighting crime with charming back-and-forth banter. It’s a hangout movie between a boy and a washed-up superhero, a reprieve from what the genre typically offers.
When Sam is not hanging out with Joe, he finds himself getting into trouble and embroiled in the path of career criminals up to no good. Their leader Cyrus (Pilou Asbæk, once again solid at making a nothing character detestable through sniveling and snide facial expressions), intends to break into a nearby armory and recover the Nemesis gear, picking up where the super-villain left off, which involves triggering a countrywide power outage. These motivations are generic, and the scenes of them enacting their plan and inspiring anarchy interrupt the elements that work.
Samaritan also seems to be attempting social commentary, mentioning that homelessness is out of control, crime is on the rise, and the average person can’t sustain themselves (Sam’s mom, played by Dascha Polanco, is so fixated on providing for the boy she hardly has time to spend together), which all gets lost in the fiery good versus evil climax and lame villains.
Still, the camaraderie between young Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton and Sylvester Stallone is lively enough, with the latter showcasing he can still kick some ass. There is also a hard edge to the material that has long felt lost among PG-13 fare, but it is welcome here as it more authentically grounds some characterization for both protagonists and their moral journeys. Samaritan is not grim-dark, nor is it a straight-up kids’ movie; it’s somewhere in between with its unusual perspective.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
