Renegades - Legends Never Die

Right, well I have to say that I wasn't really expecting a whole lot from the 2022 action crime thriller "Renegades" as I sat down to watch it. But I figured that with the rather interesting cast ensemble that was in the movie, then there might actually be a chance that this could turn out as a good movie.

And I have to say that writers Tom Jolliffe and Jonathan Sothcott definitely were on to something here with the script that they had put together for director Daniel Zirilli to bring to the screen. But it was just a shame that director Daniel Zirilli botched the opportunity that was readily served at his disposal.

The storyline had some good aspects to it, but the movie felt clumsy and sluggish. It was partly an insanely wooden, rigid and awkward dialogue that was shunting the movie's momentum. Well, that and also the fact that the action sequences didn't really feel particularly dynamic and fluid.

I was especially taken aback with the delivery of the dialogue and the general lack of enthusiasm, commitment and commitment from the cast in general. It just took away so much from the movie. It was as if the actors themselves didn't buy into the subpar script they had to work with.

"Renegades" definitely had a great cast ensemble, with the likes of Lee Majors, Michael Paré, Louis Mandylor, Nick Moran, Tom Lister Jr., Ian Ogilvy and Danny Trejo on the cast list. Of all these talents, it felt like only Lee Majors and Louis Mandylor were actively putting in an effort into their characters and trying to make something of the movie. Personally I don't understand why they opt to put the surgically altered and silicone enhanced performers in movies, and there was one such individual in this movie here, and the alterations done to her face just ruined every scene that she was in, because it was so difficult to take her serious as an officer of the police force.

The action sequences in the movie weren't particularly exciting. And an action crime thriller should be packed with thrilling and adrenaline-packed action sequences. Sadly such things were not present in "Renegades". Sure, there were some action sequences, but they were pretty much ruined by some dubious special effects for the shots from weapon, explosions and such.

For an action crime thriller then "Renegades" was a flaccid addition to the genre. The movie brought nothing new to the genre, nor was it particularly outstanding or thrilling. So it was a rather bland and mediocre viewing experience to sit through. I did manage to sit through the entire movie, but believe you me when I say that I am never returning to watch "Renegades" a second time.

My rating of director Daniel Zirilli's 2022 action crime thriller "Renegades" lands on a three out of ten stars.

I only watched this movie to see what became of Lee Majors, that I used to watch when I was a kid, in The Fall Guy and The Six Million Dollar Man, two immensely popular series when I was young. I wondered what character he would play as an 83 years old actor. Not a very plausable one to be honest, a retired veteran that still thinks he can kick some a##. Like his old colleagues in this movie they're going on a revenge expedition, it's more laughable than anything else. Danny Trejo and Lee Majors have very small roles, their names were just been used to fill the movie poster and attract people to watch this mediocre movie. The acting is far below average, almost painful to watch. The producer or whoever does the casting must have a weak spot for women that had plastic surgeries as almost every actress in Renegades looked like an abomination. Unbelievable what women (and some men) are capable to do to look younger. A mission that 90% of the time is doomed to fail. There are so many examples now of failed procedures that you would think plastic surgery is a dying business but people continue to have body transformations in the hope of having that everlasting young look and instead they look atrocious. In Renegades there are plenty examples of surgeries gone wrong. Those actresses are now doomed to play in these kind of movies, b-movies or in this case z-movies as it's that bad. The producer was probably looking for cheap actresses as I can't see any of those actresses playing in a decent movie in the future, so the only roles they will get are in very low quality movies like this one.

I love London gangster revenge movies so I was looking forward to this one as it has some stellar cast members. Unfortunately it also has some bad actors and some poor writing. One of the worst cast members is married to the writer. Go figure.

Ian Ogilvy is, as always, a delight. The underrated Paul Barber is superb and Billy Murray does what he does best. So nice to see Lee Majors on screen again. However, Stephanie Beacham is far too old to be playing a serving senior police officer and looks as if she is on life support. Sothcott is hopelessly miscast as a Detective Inspector. She can't act and looks like a victim of a botched Botox procedure. And it's all a bit confused. She carries a gun but clearly nobody showed her how to use it and why would a DI in London be carrying a gun on a routine enquiry anyway.

The writing is clichéd and some of the dialogue is pathetic. I felt sorry for the actors who had to deliver it but hopefully they all had a nice pay day.

And that leaves Patsy Kensit. She has a strange role that tries to pull it all together and give the story meaning but she doesn't pull it off. The blurb say 4 old SAS soldiers get together but the lead goodies clearly says he was in the Royal Anglian and wears their beret. Such inaccuracy in the trailer info says it all.

Very disappointed.

The entire production felt geriatric; from the cliched 80's story, to the cheesy dated dialogue and poor attempts at humor. The directing by seasoned director Daniel Zirilli was horrid and very amateurish. I've seen better directing from first-time filmmakers. The entire film had zero urgency and just trotted along from scene to scene - of which also had terrible transitions from just as bad editing. The score was just too constant and annoying. You'd think having two writers at least one could come up with something original and unexpected, but instead, it was all cliched, done many times before - much better, and fully predictable. At least the cast actually seemed like they were enjoying themselves constantly downing pints, and hopefully Majors and Trejo at least got a free trip to the UK for this underwhelming production. However some of the secondary cast did seem like they needed better cast-direction, of which Zirilli failed to give. And Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott as detective Moore needs to chill with the duck-lips botox, that's just cringe to look at. It was also funny to see Tom Lister Jr. Literally call his lines in. You wont miss anything passing on this film, even if you're a fan of Trejo, Majors or Mandylor.

If you've nothing better to be doing & want to watch something that won't tax your brain, this is watchable.

The dialogue is pretty bad, there are some lines that make you cringe.

The acting is so-so. In the style of a made-for-tv movie.

The characters aren't very good. The bad guys are pulled straight from the pages of school of economy bad-guys. Other characters don't appear to have had much thought in how they're going to present on screen. The cops for a start are just plain terrible!

I watched this with a wink wink as to how bad it was going to be. It's not dire, but it's only just about Good. Ish....