It turns out there’s no age limit for male action heroes. Many of Hollywood’s leading men are extending their hard-hitting, fast-paced careers into their 70s and beyond. The conflicts start to a look a little different, but they retain their box office appeal. It can only really be explained by their inherent charm and ability to still sell a punch or death-defying stunt. Although Liam Neeson dabbled in the genre world, he only gained true action hero status at 55 when he starred in 2009’s Taken. Now, almost 20 years later, he’s leading a high-speed chase in The Mongoose.
Ryan “Fang” Flanagan (Neeson) is a former Special Forces soldier. The decorated combat veteran was honourably discharged following his last tour in Afghanistan. His unit was taken prisoner and one of his men was killed. Unfortunately, his marriage didn’t survive his PTSD, though he remains close with his ex-wife, Tara (Marisa Tomei). Consequently, when her boyfriend puts her in the hospital, Fang offers to retrieve her belongings. But the abusive ex interrupts his packing, leading to an altercation and a fatal act of self-defence. Afraid of capture, Fang’s first instinct is to run — at 210 km/h in a Mustang Shelby Super Snake GT350.
There is no gentle introduction to the film’s narrative. It drops audiences into the middle of a highway chase with police and a helicopter in pursuit. Instead, the movie uses flashbacks to describe Fang. They show his ill-fated final deployment and how it affected his relationships. As a result, it connects to his reflexive urge to flee the scene and his earlier imprisonment. He refuses to ever endure capture again. It also presents Fang’s tight-knit bond with his brothers in arms (Ving Rhames and Marcus Thomas). They risk everything to be by their leader’s side and run interference where possible.
It’s only after audiences get to know Fang that the film relays the details of his crime. It feels a lot like a trial in which the defence tries to establish the defendant’s character before refuting their guilt. The memories establish Fang is a hero who never fully recovered from his wartime captivity, making him a sympathetic character audiences can champion.
Consequently, everyone within the film is following the developing news story on CNN. During their coverage, the news anchor (Laura Coates) creates a similarly agreeable portrait of the man at the centre of a cross-state manhunt. They also demonstrate why the deceased was not a good guy, which doesn’t negate the wrongdoing but helps everyone feel better about it. People, particularly other veterans, connect to Fang. As a result, random citizens rally behind him and help him evade law enforcement, like it’s an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard.
The positive spin feels a little propagandist, depicting a country that supports veterans without having to defend any ongoing conflicts. There’s even a side feud between the young, progressive head of Arkansas’ highway patrol (Maurice Marvel Meredith) and the gun-wielding, hard-nosed Texas equivalent (Michael Chiklis). But it amounts to little more than chest-puffing and an “I told you so.” The incident also openly criticizes “stand your ground” laws.
Fang handles the Shelby like a pro, maneuvering her around tight turns and avoiding countless cop cars. The more intense chases feature impressive stunt choreography. Fang makes a lot of bold and desperate choices, while also challenging the resolve of the police. In spite of the breakneck driving and busting through barriers, Fang manages to keep the super car in pretty good shape.
Fang also develops a special affinity for Helene (voice of Stella Stocker), the vehicle’s AI interface. He converses with her, asking her trivial questions to fill the time. She also becomes a valuable co-conspirator, helping him plan routes, diagnose issues with the car and come up with solutions on the fly. Their relationship becomes so well-established, it feels like a real bond could be broken when they inevitably part ways — a heartbreak that doesn’t escape Helene’s artificial emotional intelligence.
The combat unit’s maxim is “Move fast, kick ass.” Although that looks different for the now seniors, there’s still a dash of fun to watching a muscle car drive circles around a bunch of cops.
The Mongoose is now playing in cinemas.
