Mechanic: Resurrection  ★★

MECHANIC: Resurrection is a step backwards for Jason Statham.

Firstly, it reverts back to his basic screen persona with none of the flashes of nuanced character that we have seen occasionally since 2008 in films like The Bank Job, Parker, Redemption and Wild Card.

But, more importantly, it is disappointing even for a pure action film.

On the plus side it has some great locations and plenty of the impressive close-quarters fighting that Statham is renowned for. But it is hamstrung by a weak, by-the-numbers script and a lacklustre supporting cast.

The original Mechanic in 1972 starred Charles Bronson as a hired assassin who trains and is then hunted by his apprentice, played by Jan-Michael Vincent. The 2011 remake with Staham and Ben Foster wasn’t as good but still solid.

It is hard to tell what this new film is supposed to be. The story initially seems to be a sequel, but ends up becoming more like a remake of the remake. The Mechanic character is too far removed from the original anti-hero as the makers seem intent on turning him into a B grade Bond.

Every time you think an action sequence may be impressive it is ruined by ludicrous escape and evasion scenarios and below-par special effects. There are four super-villains with only one of them, played eccentrically by Tommy Lee Jones, being anywhere interesting and Jessica Alba is wasted as the unconvincing love interest.

There is one good scene involving a swimming pool cantilevered from a high-rise penthouse in Sydney but, even then, it pales up against stunt work by the likes of Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible series.

Unfortunately, we have seen this type of film done many times before and better, including by Statham.