LONDON: Seemingly overnight, Anthony Mackie has gone from supporting player in the sprawling Marvel universe to one of Netflix’s most bankable action leads, appearing in such diverse shows as Charlie Brooker’s “Black Mirror,” season two of “Altered Carbon” and the ambitious 2019 sci-fi epic “IO.”
Leading man status is hardly a surprise since Mackie has proven himself capable of dramatic heft in films such as “The Hurt Locker” and sardonic camaraderie when playing Sam Wilson, Captain America’s friend and sidekick.
But it makes it all the more disappointing when a film doesn’t give him enough to do. In “Outside the Wire” Mackie plays Leo, an android super soldier embedded in a European war zone who recruits a naive drone pilot to help him prevent nuclear armageddon.
In what could have been a fascinatingly paradoxical (maybe even cerebral) spin on the genre, Leo is a weapon with an anti-war stance. He is designed to win hearts and minds, but is capable of shockingly efficient bouts of violence. And, in another potentially fascinating narrative move, he is partnered with rookie soldier Thomas Harp (British actor Damson Idris), who has never seen conflict up close.
These ingredients could make for an altogether different take on the standard military action thriller, but Swedish director Mikael Hafstrom opts for the safe, spectacular path instead. All of which is done very well, though a little long.
“Outside the Wire” is nicely paced, well choreographed and avoids any narrative lulls by knowing precisely when to ramp up the action. Mackie packs a (literal) punch when called for, but is never given much more to do than scowl and kick terrorists through walls.
The movie is perfect middle-of-the-road sci-fi — it asks a few interesting questions, but never really troubles itself trying to come up with the answers.
