Stratton * (2017, Dominic Cooper, Connie Nielsen, Tyler Hoechlin, Tom Felton, Derek Jacobi) – Movie Review

There is nothing good to say about director Simon West’s espionage action thriller Stratton (2017), lamely and limply based on the book series written by Duncan Falconer.

Dominic Cooper took over at the last minute from Henry Cavill as British Special Boat Service (SBS) commando operative John Stratton, quitting a week before filming because of the proverbial creative differences. Good move, Henry! It would be good to report that Cooper steps in and saves the day, but he doesn’t. Though apparently doing most of his own stunts, ironically he doesn’t look as though he is doing any of the action or would be capable of it. That shows an acting shortfall, and he simply cannot command the film. He is unconvincing and uncharismatic, and shows no dangerous edge or fatal charm.

[Spoiler alert] Those looking forward to Tyler Hoechlin’s role as Stratton’s American partner Marty are going to be big fat disappointed, as the promising Cooper-Hoechlin start-up partnership ends up in a very early bath for Hoechlin. This turns out to be only one of the first of the film’s woes. The next is when he is replaced by Austin Stowell as Stratton’s new American partner Hank. Let’s say Stowell does not fulfill Hoechlin’s promising start.

Then there’s Gemma Chan as feisty female agent Aggy, Tom Felton as dodgy male agent, Thomas Kretschmann as relentless, virtually speechless villain Grigory Barovsky, and Derek Jacobi as old sea dog Ross, the cheery, drivel-spouting father figure who has supposedly brought up Stratton on his boat. All these characters are sad cliches, played by decent actors all at sea, out of their depth.

But none of them is quite as bad, or to be fair nearly anything like as bad as Connie Nielsen as the M-style SBS boss, who acts like she’s sent a hologram to perform in her place and speaks like one of those computerised voices you get in phone responses nowadays.

The story, about Stratton and Hank seeking to avenge Marty’s death while tracking down Barovsky’s international terrorist cell is strictly for the birds, full of holes and cliches, lacking interest or much chance of involvement. 

West (Con Air, The Expendables 2) is an excellent director of this very kind of movie. But something has gone terribly wrong. There was a lot of laughter at the film’s expense in the cinema, particularly when Niielsen was on screen. What has gone wrong exactly? It might just be production troubles, with the star quitting and a last-minute move from Docklands to Canary Wharf for the Bond-style boat chase, enforced by conditions in the water, leading West to drop the ball. But, oh, finally something good to say about Stratton – the exciting Canary Wharf locations and Canary Wharf boat chase did spark the film up a bit finally.

Falconer was a member of the British SBS, the wartime created UK special forces unit of the UK that spawned the SAS. Falconer had operated in the Falklands War and with Intelligence in Northern Ireland.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Movie Review

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