By Catholic News Service

Jason Statham returns as the hitman protagonist of this action franchise, the current version of which kicked off with the 2011 remake of a 1972 movie starring Charles Bronson. Though retired since the end of the last installment, the assassin is forced to take up his craft again after a mysterious friend from his childhood (Sam Hazeldine) kidnaps his true love (Jessica Alba). To spring her, he’ll have to carry out three kills.

Director Dennis Gansel, who thankfully downplays the gore, seems anxious to deliver the audience from any danger of having to think too much. As a result, his film, which has a vaguely well-intentioned but thoroughly off-kilter moral core, plays like a cut-rate “Mission: Impossible.”

Pervasive, mostly stylized violence, an implied nonmarital sexual encounter, frequent rough language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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