At war with the robots

ONE of the biggest questions going into the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU)

phase three and post-conclusion of the “Infinity Stones” saga has to be Anthony Mackie’s ability to hold the blockbuster together.

MCU’s decision to kill off Robert Downey Junior’s Tony Stark (Ironman), Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanova (Black Widow) and retire Chris Evans’Captain America effectively disposed of three keys members of the Fab Six.

Yes, Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/ The Hulk), Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Jeremy Renner (Clinton Barton/ Hawkeye) still exist in the confines of the MCU.

However, two of them do not have their own films, while the other’s box office revenue is not that inspiring.

With Sam Wilson taking up the Captain America mantle, and soon to star in his own television show, it only makes sense that Mackie will take up a bigger load going forward.

Now, Mackie certainly has the requisite personality and charm.

But the recurring question is: Does he has the required acting chops?

I am glad to report the answer to that question is a resounding yes.

“Outside the Wire” — Netflix’s latest release — is a film best described as “serviceable”.

It is nowhere near perfect but does enough to achieve its goals and targets.

Set in the near future — actually in 2036 — the film is premised on a civil war that erupts in Ukraine and leads the United States to deploy peacekeeping forces to quell tension using robots and drones.

During a routine operation, a drone pilot, Thomas Harp (Damson Idris), deploys a missile against a suspected enemy launcher, killing two marines but saving 38.

Instead of being dishonourably discharged, Harp is sent to the frontline as punishment.

He gets assigned to Captain Leo (Mackie), a highly advanced and experimental android super-soldier masquerading as a human officer.

The two are charged with a secret mission that involves stopping known terrorist Pilou Asbaek from acquiring Cold War-era nuclear codes and the silos he plans to use to launch an attack on the United States of America.

Standing in their way is Leo’s programming that sees him acting mostly out of his own volition.

Ethical lines are crossed.

My biggest criticism of this flick is that it tries to do way too much, often giving half-baked illustrations of the moral conundrum of war and the use of drones.

Leo, the advanced android, is Skynet personified and answers the question of what would happen if the machines we seem to be giving too much power ever decided to work for themselves?

Harp’s incident seeks to address the use of drones and the destruction they cause in war situations.

Both are valid points, but they have been overdone in cinema.

This movie offers nothing new, except introducing new actors and characters whose main contribution is to repeat tired old themes.

The film’s saving grace is one Anthony Mackie, as the 42-year-old thespian gives a truly five-star performance.

Asbaek, the other draw, is barely in the actual movie and dies within minutes of his appearance.

Idris’s Harp is not meant to be a likeable character.

His character is also front and centre of the film’s biggest pothole, with the drone strike at the beginning of the film never addressed.

Yes, it is referred to plenty of times, and we are told he made the right call, but they fail to prove it in the script.

Mackie nails every bit of the film’s demands by coming off as funny and charismatic, yet nailing the machine traits.

The action scenes — too far and few in-between for my liking — could have easily moved the movie from watchable to enjoyable.

Solely based on this movie, maybe Disney Plus’“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” might be a good production.

The trailer has spans of potential.