‘Sabotage’ soaked in testosterone but smarter than it first seems

  • By Robert Horton Herald Movie Critic
  • Wednesday, March 26, 2014 6:42pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

I’ve seen enough TV pharmaceutical commercials to diagnose symptoms when I see them. And I can confidently say that no one involved with “Sabotage” is suffering from “low T.”

This is a very high-testosterone movie. The female characters score especially strong on that scale.

In the early going, the hyperactive macho joshing and intense gun-fondling threaten to wreck “Sabotage” completely. But writer-director David Ayer builds something sneaky along the way, and the movie turns into a smarter action flick than it first seems.

The obnoxious idiots at the center of the action are, I’m sorry to say, on our side. Meet an elite DEA unit, led by grizzled veteran John “Breacher” Wharton (Arnold Schwarzenegger). The lunatics in this merry band love shooting guns, drinking shots, and partying at strip clubs.

Schwarzenegger, looking calm and weathered, is in pretty impressive shape here. Ayer knows how to limit his dialogue and cut around the awkward moments in which Arnie attempts to act.

Meanwhile, his group is full of amped-up guys with names like Monster (“Avatar” man Sam Worthington), Sugar (Terrence Howard), and Grinder (Joe Manganiello). There’s also a Mrs. Monster, played with just-one-of-the-boys gusto by Mirielle Enos, from TV’s “The Killing.”

Their attempted theft of money belonging to a drug cartel sets up the rest of the story line. Somebody’s killing the DEA agents off, in unusually revolting ways.

Yes, this film has scenes of torture, evisceration and intense gore littered throughout. It’s nearly as bad as watching network TV crime shows.

“Sabotage” is almost single-handedly redeemed with the appearance of a Georgia cop, played by Olivia Williams. She is as tough as Big Arnie, and prone to striding through crime scenes while looking super-cool.

Brit actress Williams has had a low-simmer career, from “Rushmore” to “The Ghost Writer.” But her swaggering turn here suggests she could have an action-movie career if she wanted it, which she probably doesn’t.

Ayer has a way with street lingo (he did “Street Kings” and “End of Watch”), and his films have an authentically hard edge. “Sabotage” feels out of control, as though it were changing its mind about how it views its characters every few minutes.

But give this movie some credit for a few surprises and some nice flinty banter. Now please, everybody go and get in touch with their feminine side.

“Sabotage” (two and a half stars)

Arnold Schwarzenegger (in pretty good shape) leads a DEA squad of amped-up lunatics in a better-than-average action flick. Director David Ayer has a way with street lingo, and Olivia Williams is terrific as a super-cool Georgia cop who doesn’t care for the posturing of Big Arnie’s team.

Rating: R, for violence, nudity, language.

Opening: Friday at Alderwood Mall, Galaxy Monroe, Marysville, Stanwood Cinemas, Meridian, Thorton Place Stadium, Woodinville, Cascade Mall.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.