It's kind of daring, making an action flick that's defined by quirky personality over action or plot. Each killing that opens the film is performed in a unique and unusual manner; each antagonist to whom we're introduced has some special trait or style; each hand-picked "good guy" to whom we're introduced is larger than life and has some particular defining characteristic. All this, and the assemblage of the party, fills a bit more than the first third, but the "personality forward" ethos of the picture persists. The villains' scheme, as described by "kind of sort of" protagonist Drew, is indistinguishable from the modus operandi of modern political conservatives; we're assured within that first third or so the approach will continue through to the end, as our heroes apparently have a single half-hour window in which to neutralize each of their selected targets; and the reconnaissance and preparation that fills the second act is filled just as much with the same lighthearted soft focus of charismatic self-realization first, plot and action second.
And so it goes on down the line: women's bodies, gratuitous female nudity, cinematography, editing, acting, writing, direction, music, costume design, hair and makeup, stunts and effects, and more. If Steven Soderbergh's 'Ocean's eleven' series were about assassinations rather than heists, and if it leaned even more heavily into unabashed frivolity, it would look like Andy Sidaris' 'Seven.' For what it's worth, all this is actually is well done and entertaining, including those stunts, effects, and action sequences first and foremost, and even some of the music is a blast. The feature wants only to be a ridiculous romp, and it is most certainly that. Some facets are definitely a smidgen tiresome (would-be comedy never lands as well as it wants to), and others break with the general mirthful tone; it also never achieves any peak of humor or thrills. Still, overall it really is light, rather cheesy fun all of its own accord. As if filming in Hawaii and showing off the islands weren't indication enough, in every last contribution both behind the scenes and in front of the camera it's readily evident all involved were having a great time, and those feelings are ably passed on to the audience.
No one is ever going to confuse this movie for a must-see classic, but then, it also doesn't try to be. 'Seven' knows what it is, and it's happy to play in the space it has carved for itself. Within the last act we do get the promised action, and it looks terrific; the proceedings might never earn the laugh they want, but it's solidly amusing - and despite the cheeky attitude the title adopts from the very start, no one could ever accuse the participants of slouching with the work they turned in. Truth be told my expectations were mixed to low when I sat to watch, and I'm actually rather pleased with how good it turned out to be. Rounded out with unconventional stylization for the credits and any text to appear on the screen, this is even a tad clever in its own right. There's no need to go out of your way for 'Seven,' but if you do have the chance to watch and are looking for something fairly uninvolved, this is an enjoyable little lark that holds up reasonably well - and sometimes that's all a film needs to be.
