5.5/10

It’s always the easiest for me when the movie writes the review for me. What i mean by that is this movie has so many problems that keep it from being more than just a good action flick, and the problems are very evident. Paul Walker stars in one of his final films before his death as Damien Collier, a Detroit police officer who is sent into an apartment complex for criminals called Brick Mansions to defuse a bomb and rescue his partner’s girlfriend. This is a remake of the 2004 french film District 13, even taking the star of that film (David Belle) and making him Collier’s criminal partner Lino Dupree. The chemistry between the two characters is decent enough to keep the film entertaining, but their screen time is very uneven in the direction you wouldn’t think. Walker gets the first billing in this movie because he is the biggest star in it, but i saw Dupree being the main character of the film. The movie starts with him and has it’s best moments with him. It’s sad that this will be one of Walker’s last films because he isn’t really a big enough factor to make a difference for the mediocrity of Brick Mansions.RZA really is the best part of the movie as the mayor of Brick Mansions, Tremaine Alexander. RZA has really come a long way from his laughable performance in The Man With the Iron Fists. As Alexander, he has a soft spoken but dangerous way of running his gang.Another positive, It lives up to it’s promise of being a ruthless hard hitting action film for most of the 85 minute run time. It has beautifully choreographed fight scenes with some very dangerous criminal characters.The setting of Detroit has been almost comical this year for films like Only Lovers Left Alive and Robocop that need a rundown city that represents the beating America has taken.Unlike Robocop though, Brick Mansions isn’t afraid to show the true atmosphere of Detroit. This film also has a nice little twist at the end that would totally save the movie if it wasn’t for the absolute craziness of it all, but more on that later. Some of Mansions biggest problems are the thinkers problems of every movie. It’s the people who are smart enough to ask how in the world they rounded up all of these criminals and got them to cooperate to living in a fenced in community. Better yet, what were the rules for qualifying for this place? Does any small crime like store theft or breaking and entering count? Seems very silly to shack these people with murders and drug dealers. As i mentioned before, the ending is nice because it’s something completely different than what you would expect. SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS – Tremaine is found to be innocent, and the whole gated community is a setup by the mayor of Detroit. At the end Walker, Belle and RZA all come together to stop the corruption of the city. They succeed in exposing the mayor, but it’s what comes next that is truly laughable. Alexander runs for mayor of Detroit now that apparently his sins of murder, drug dealing and prostitution of women (all of which is seen in this film) has been forgiven. I know it’s Detroit, but COME ON!!! Also, all of the criminals are apparently good guys now with smiles, and accompanied by a new children’s school that opens up in Brick Mansions. Because who wouldn’t want their children growing up next to this kind of crowd? If you think i have mentioned the worst of it, you are wrong, my friend. They saved the last kick in the pants for the last minute of the movie when they show Walker being congratulated by his on screen father. During this scene, The Man by Aloe Blacc plays, and you guys know how much i am crazy about that song It just all left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Overall, i really wish Walker was given a better send off. If people are going to spend their hard earned money to see Walker, i would say save it and rent the film Hours (2013). That movie is 95% Paul Walker because it is mostly a one man cast. There have been better films for Walker than Hours, but that is his single best performance. Save Mansions for DVD. It might be worth a dollar Redbox rental…….MAYBE