The Baker

Pappi (Ron Perlman) is the baker. His estranged no-good son Peter (Joel David Moore) shows up out of nowhere with mute daughter Delphi (Emma Ho). Peter had stolen from Vic (Elias Koteas) and mob boss Merchant (Harvey Keitel) is not happy.

This is part John Wick and part Léon: The Professional. It's got the extended continuous fight action. It is a simple story. Ron Perlman is always a dominating presence. It's a simple role for him. It also has some great actors filling out the cast. The girl is pretty cute and being mute does limit the possibility of failure. It all adds up to a solid B-movie.

This action/thriller may feel familiar with elements borrowed from various sources, but its likable cast keeps things engaging with their charm and charisma. The Baker cleverly combines bits from John Wick, Aliens, and The Professional, placing the right elements in the right places to provide an enjoyable experience, even if it doesn't introduce anything groundbreaking. Perlman's portrayal as a fighter is believable, showcasing his human side with vulnerability after a fight, and his bonding with young Emma Ho's character, Delphi, is heartwarming. Keitel's portrayal of the crime lord exudes calm menace, while Koteas' Vic becomes a tragic figure. The film leaves room for a possible sequel, and with intriguing characters, that prospect seems promising.

I'm a fan of Ron Pearlman. I've seen him in so many movies and love him in Sons of Anarchy. I'm glad to see him get a leading movie role, and his performance does not disappoint. The more surprising development is child actress Emma Ho somehow matching his performance, especially when much of this movie rides on her shoulders.

The Baker is mostly well-made and does a good job investing you in the characters. They add in little details, moments, and actions that may seem inconsequential to the story but make both lead characters so endearing. And it doesn't feel randomly inserted, but rather a natural part of the story and characters.

The fight scenes are the only thing holding this back from crossing the threshold between good and great; from being something I rewatch. And I don't think it's the fault of the director. I don't know how to say this without sounding mean, but Ron Pearlman is too old to perform convincing fight scenes. It's the Liam Neeson effect.

The reason I don't think it's the directors fault is a fight scene early on that doesn't involve Pearlman. It's a good scene and got me excited. When Pearlman has a fight scene, there are five cuts per second (no exaggeration) to mask the unconvincing choreography. It's hard to watch, metaphorically and literally.

In another fight scene involving Pearlman, there are no cuts for about two minutes. But the scene is intentionally shadowy and never once shows Pearlman's face. It's clearly a stunt double the entire time. And because it's so dark, it's difficult to see the fight itself. It could have been a cool one-take scene if they didn't have to film it in the dark.

I still had a good time with this movie but I doubt I'd watch it again. I think most people will enjoy it, at least mildly. It's definitely better than most streaming movie garbage. (1 viewing, opening Thursday 7/27/2023)

Thoroughly enjoyed the movie from start to finish. All the actors were believable and the action kept me glued to the screen. The relationship of the grandfather and granddaughter serves to give the grandfather a chance at making a past memory with his son a chance for redemption. It was engaging from the beginning and the characters had dimensions. A bit of fighting action and plenty of violence, too! Don't let that scare you away, just concentrate on the story. The story has been done before, but with Ron Perlman's and the supporting cast's acting, it' is still entertaining and satisfying. If you're looking for a movie which will definitely be underseen and underrated, see The Baker! You' ll be glad you did!

I don't even understand how this movie can rank below a minimum of 8 in review ratings. Ron Perlman is way underrated as the real man's man of what a strong, silent, no nonsense real hero should be. Not withstanding in this movie, a dream fantasy grandfather or father any kid would be proud to a part of that bloodline. The plot may seem straight forward predictable but it's the flow of a good movie and it's great talent that elevates this from mediocre. RP character doesn't need lots of stunt work to get the message across or work done. Guess it's his many years as a veteran artiste professional that commands an implied presence that requires no words. Like the bread that he bakes, he more than rose to the crunch. 🍞👍🙏👌😋👏🎊💐