Rogue movie review by Movie Review Mom

MOVIE TITLE: Rogue RELEASES on-demand streaming August 28, 2020

Available on DVD September 1, 2020

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: C-

IN A NUTSHELL:

Directed and written by M. J. Bassett with some writing help from her daughter, Isabel Bassett, this violent action thriller features bad human traffickers, bad lions, and a bad a$$ group of rescuers, all in danger of each other. Isabel Bassett also plays the role of Tessa.

For M. J. Bassett, this movie is a passion project. She posts on the screen at the end of the movie that, although this story is fiction, there are 12,000 lions in “lion farms” in South Africa that are kept in appalling conditions in cages and that this must be stopped. She stated, “I’ll make an action movie, and at the heart of it will be an environmental message, and a conversation to be had about how we treat the planet, and the creatures in it, which won’t be like eating your greens.”

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

You see the mistreatment and killing of lions
Profanity, including 4.2 million F-bombs
You might need to explain to your kids what poachers are
Some animals attack and kill some humans
You see LOTS brutal violence with blood and gore
LOTS of gunfire and explosions

THEMES:

Manhood
Teamwork
Humanity and the terrible things we do to each other for money
Countries and governments

THINGS I LIKED:

Non-stop action mixed with snarky humor.
Megan Fox is gorgeous and intense in this action thriller. She worked with a military expert to train with weapons. She wanted to do a movie that would allow her to do something she had never done before. Even though she’s completely covered in military-style gear throughout this movie, fans can see her playing her usual sexy role in Machine Gun Kelly’s most recent music video called “Bloody Valentine.” If you like him, you can also see him in the new Jamie Foxx feature film “Project Power” on Netflix.
For those who love female empowerment movies, this film was directed by a trans-woman, written by 2 women, produced by a woman, and features a strong female lead.
There’s a running gag about some of the tough military guys who sing a Backstreet Boys song with their blessing.
This is the kind of movie kids will have fun laughing at while they watch it.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Most of the CGI looked really fake like the fire scenes and the main lioness.
A lot of scenes occur at night, so it will be hard to tell what’s going on if you watch this on a very small screen once it goes to streaming devices.
Not all of the humor lands.
There are some stupid moments that are completely unrealistic.
Soooo much tough talk.
The title doesn’t quite fit the movie content.
The girls being rescued whine and complain the entire time. Really? I think I’d be really nice and grateful to the people risking their lives for me. amiright??!!
There are a few slow moments when people talk about their lives, but by then, you really don’t care about those characters.
One of the messages is to treat animals with kindness, yet one of the villains is a lion who savagely kills a bunch of people.

FUNNY LINES:

“Ready on 3.” – Samantha O’Hara (Megan Fox) “On 3 or after?” – Elijah Dekker (Brandon Auret) “Seriously? Every time?” – Samantha “It’s funny every time.” -Eli
“If I F’n die because I’m doing the right thing, I’m going to be so F’n pxxssed.” – Samantha O’Hara (Megan Fox)
“You did okay… for a guy. Did you want a hug?” – Tessa (Isabel Bassett)

INTERESTING LINES: