Ever so often a movie comes along that not only has the ability to excite but also the potential to make its viewers empathize, and, in the case of “Charlie Countryman,” it is certainly easy to do so with the title character (Shia LaBeouf). A whole new take on the phrase “that escalated quickly,” Charlie finds himself on a plane to Bucharest, Romania on the orders of his mother’s ghost, with instructions from the man who died while sitting next to him on the plane to find his daughter. And once Charlie finds the daughter, Gabi (Evan Rachel Wood), love takes hold of him. From there, it’s a quick downward spiral for Charlie.
“Charlie Countryman” is unbelievable, in the literal sense. Every action, every scenario and each decision that Charlie makes is nonsensical. He becomes enwrapped in a feud between two crime bosses in an effort to keep love-interest Gabi safe. Suffering through physical attacks, suffocation and sacrifice, Charlie is a fool in love. And it is that very reason that makes him an endearing character.
LaBeouf and Wood have a palpable chemistry. Both bring an emotional rawness that makes these unbelievable characters believable. However, the same cannot be said for the rest of the cast. Rupert Grint, who plays a local that Charlie meets in Bucharest, is forgettable, as are most of the other side characters. The one exception is Mads Mikkelsen, who plays Gabi’s husband and a mentally unstable crime boss; his character’s instability and possessiveness are conveyed naturally and convincingly.
Though the movie makes strong strides in the beginning, its ending comes off rushed. In an effort to tie all parts of the story together, there are plot points left unexplained. Despite this perceived hastiness, the journey that “Charlie Countryman” takes you on is a thrilling one.
Grade: B
Rating & Run Time: R, 108 min.
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