‘War Machine’ Review: Alan Ritchson Survives Humorless ‘Predator’ Clone

by

War Machine feels like a blend of a military recruitment video and a remake of Predator. It’s a relentlessly macho action movie that might appeal to viewers who enjoy intensely masculine displays. Netflix likely identified a specific audience – those who prioritize strength and action – to stream this film. It’s a straightforward, humorless sci-fi action story, hitting all the familiar beats of a group of underdogs battling a seemingly invincible alien enemy.

The film features a team of U.S. Army Rangers, led by Alan Ritchson, in a role that feels like a somewhat uninspired attempt to emulate action stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Unfortunately, a weak script from director Patrick Hughes and James Beaufort doesn’t help Ritchson create a truly compelling character – he comes across as just another generic action hero. The real focus of the movie is actually the alien robot, reminiscent of those in Transformers, that’s hunting Ritchson and his team. If you can overlook the film’s overly serious tone and predictable plot, it surprisingly manages to be quite engaging.

War Machine borrows heavily from other action movies – so much so that directors like James Cameron and John McTiernan might consider legal action. However, they might also find themselves entertained by the film’s exciting chases and violent scenes, which director Hughes handles directly and efficiently, though without a unique style. But viewers have to get through a lot of military clichés first. The film opens with a prologue set in Afghanistan, where mechanic Ritchson vows to join the Rangers with his close friend (Jai Courtney), who is quickly killed in an ambush. Two years later, still troubled by his brother’s death, Ritchson’s character pursues his plan to become a Ranger.


Netflix

The nameless soldiers in the film, treated like disposable extras, are only identified by numbers, perhaps highlighting the movie’s lack of originality. Earning that number, however, means surviving intense Ranger training led by Dennis Quaid and Esai Morales, who play army leaders with over-the-top seriousness and patriotic fervor. Some viewers might even find the training montage—featuring recruits running obstacle courses under fire hoses, doing push-ups in the rain, and jumping into a pool with their hands tied—surprisingly enjoyable. Despite an old knee injury and reliance on painkillers, Ritchson’s character completes the training and is designated as Ranger 81. He and his fellow numerically-named candidates then face a final, realistic test: a challenging hike through difficult terrain to locate a downed, classified aircraft.

The Ranger training sequences are intensely physical and hyper-masculine, so when a strange asteroid appears, the story feels like a shift in tone. Thankfully, it’s a compelling shift, even if we’ve seen similar alien invasion plots many times before – perhaps with more flair and wit, though not necessarily as much graphic violence. When Ranger 81 and his team discover a strange aircraft, it’s not what they were looking for. Instead, it’s an alien machine that looks like a mix of Cybertron from Transformers and a Recognizer from Tron. This intimidating and visually interesting creation is determined to kill them all, and the film doesn’t shy away from showing Rangers being brutally killed – impaled, with visible wounds, and suffering fatal injuries. While the violence is shocking, it effectively raises the stakes, even though the characters are largely underdeveloped, with the exception of the anxious Ranger 15 (Blake Richardson), who is clearly inspired by Private Hudson (Bill Paxton) from Aliens.


Netflix

Director of Photography Aaron Morton (known for Black Mirror: Bandersnatch) delivers stunning visuals, capturing the beauty of Australian forests, rivers, and rocky landscapes. These peaceful settings provide a striking contrast to the increasingly intense and well-executed action sequences as the small group led by 81 attempts to escape a determined Terminator. Adding to the pressure, 81 is also trying to bring the injured 7 (Stephan James) back to base, hoping to make amends for being unable to save his brother two years prior.

Jack Reacher star Alan Ritchson appears somewhat flat emotionally, and that’s more the fault of the weak script than his acting. He demonstrated more charisma and potential in his 2025 Prime Video series, Playdate. Therefore, the loud and predictable action film War Machine isn’t likely to help him become a major action star like Schwarzenegger or Dwayne Johnson. However, it will probably satisfy viewers who enjoy simple, high-energy action movies.

Read More

2026-03-06 11:02