After losing his fiancé to a terrorist attack just moments after his proposal, Mitch Rapp (Dylan O’Brien) finds himself hardened and resolved on one thing: revenge. This icy motivation fuels Rapp’s dauntless rebellion with reckless nerve, lands him a job with the CIA, and ultimately sets him apart from his fellow trainees as they undergo the infamously brutal conditioning program conducted by Cold War veteran Stan Hurley (Michael Keaton). Rapp quickly proves himself to Hurley and secures a job as an assassin for the American government, at which point our attention shifts to his primary mission: stop the looming threat of nuclear war. With explosive, fast-paced action, innovative combat-choreography, and hold-no-prisoners violence, “American Assassin” earns its ‘R’ rating and, admittedly, forfeits its Dove Seal of Approval. But for viewers still interested in engaging the film, here’s what you can expect.

There’s no two ways about it, “American Assassin” is a film built firmly on the foundation of wild action and passionate revenge. Whether you’re watching it for the story, characters, themes or even for the spectacle, “American Assassin” leaves you with rock-’em-sock-’em action that the trailers promise but offers nothing deeper than cold, hard vengeance and the wake of destruction it so often leaves behind. Rapp’s deep commitment to his new career only hardens his calloused heart further as he channels the pain of his past to bring justice to the “bad-guys” of the world. If you long to see Rapp process his grief and grow into his character, this film will leave you disappointed. The kind of action hero this plot requires is one of a resolute nature, unwavering and unsympathetic. It requires an assassin, and that’s precisely what you’ll find.