Description: I’m a blind film critic and I typically watch films with audio description. This film has audio description available on Netflix.

This is the same time frame as last year when Netflix released The Electric State, their bloated Russo Brothers project that didn’t spark with critics.This new original, which appears to either be a co-production with Lionsgate, or bought from them, stars Alan Ritchson in a film that should have helped make him a bankable box office star. Unfortunately, he isn’t being given an opportunity to test his box office strength, instead reduced to viewing minutes. The good news is the film gets better, so once you’ve made it to a certain point,there’s no reason not to finish.

we see Ritchson as an unnamed soldier at the beginning, shooting the shit with his brother, when an attack devastates where they are, and mortally wounds his best friend. Cut to Ritchson’s soon to be numbered soldier entering into an elite ranger program, the one his brother wanted to join. The recruiters clock that he’s overqualified, and try and make him a squad leader. he refuses, going for that strong silent type. For the next act of the film, the rangers are put through a bunch of tests and trials, where Ritchson excels at all, only to be pulled aside right at the end and told he might get the boot because he has made no effort to make friends. I’d argue the film has made little effort distinguishing anyone other than him as an actual character. Most of these other recruits are lazily reduced to “the female one”, or “the one who recognized that tattoo”, instead of men and women with actual emotions, reasons for fighting, and backstories.

Don’t worry, Ritchson is going to be advancing, because the film has only developed him, and there’s a painfully obvious TV news report in the background about some alien object hurdling through space. Ritchson is forced to be team leader, to a squad seemingly designed to be killed off, as they unknowingly enter what they think is the final trial, but is actually a giant freaking robot from space intent on blowing them all up.

this robot not in disguise proves to be a force to be reckoned with as it dwindles the numbers, causing Ritchson to once again deal with the distress of being unable to save lives. can he save any at all? can he protect the ones with a glimmer or personality?

Luckily, this back half of the film is truly action packed, bloody as all hell, and really lets Ritchson shine. it actually does fulfill on its promise, and while the ending may be a bit goofy, we also always perpetually find ourselves wanting our action heroes to win at the end of the day, even if it means a silly path forward. Like, could you imagine if John McClaine failed halfway through die Hard, and just fell down an elevator shaft? You sign up for a certain amount of can do, gung-ho attitude and the reason is we need our heroes. The film needs a hero, and it eagerly offers only one option.

The audio description was solid, though it is hard to remember a collection of numbered individuals with negligible character development. You sighted folk, never underestimate the power of facial recognition. Ritchson does have a few recognizable faces that drift through, including Dennis Quaid, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales, Stefan James, and others. It is from the director of The Hitman’s Bodyguard, which answers a lot of questions about the accessible nature of the film. However, it doesn’t really excuse the idea of creating everyone as expendable, until you realize that Patrick Hughes also directed The Expendables 3. damn. now it all makes sense.

This film was never below the line for me, but it struggles at the beginning. Even the opening sequence is shot in such a way, I assumed the brother was about to get blown up. I don’t think Netflix uses focus groups, nor do I believe they provide meaningful feedback. I doubt they’ve ever done a reshoot, and basically funnel the film to the service as being “good enough’, even if they know it isn’t. Most Netflix originals have a half-life anyway, with a few being standouts people still gravitate toward later. War Machine is an easy first time watch, and I might be willing to go again in a few years. But, I’ll also be OK if I only ever see this once.

Ritchson, who started on American Idol, has made quite a career for himself, and I hope Hollywood keeps calling. he has a strong presence, is very likeable, and handles sarcasm well. he has a presence I hope is never fully reduced the way most action stars end up just doing anything offered to them.

War Machine is a solid and entertaining film. You might say it offers more than meets the eye.

Fresh: 7.2/10