WFG RATING: B+

Lionsgate and Grindhouse Entertainment present a Latigo Films production in association with Eyevox Entertainment, Lady Bacardi Media, March On Productions, Red Sea Media, and Thomasville Productions. Directed by Johnny Martin. Produced by Andrea Iervolino, Johnny Martin, Rafael Primorac, and Richard Salvatore. Written by Jim Agnew. Cinematography by David Stragmeier. Edited by Vincent Tabaillon. 

Stars Josh Duhamel, Greg Kinnear, Maria Elisa Camargo, Michael Zapesotsky, Ana Golja, Russ Russert, David Lipper, Michael Papajohn, and Peter Stormare.

Josh Duhamel goes into everyman action mode in this thrilling action film from stuntman turned filmmaker Johnny Martin.

A brilliant scientist, Guy has discovered a new energy source that may potentially bring more green energy into the world. However, his boss Belcor has other plans for the energy source. Belcor wants to use it as a weapon. Upon discovering this, Guy decides to escape the facility with the plans for the energy source so they do not fall into the wrong hands.

Hiding out in a small town in Europe, Guy has gone off the grid. He lives in a small cabin in the town’s outskirts and when he does come to town for supplies and food, he is met with a warm reception by local restaurateur Josey and even helps teen Chase with his homework when needed. However, Belcor has somehow discovered Guy’s location and sends in his top man Ranish to lead a team, including the unhinged Marcus, to find Guy and get the energy source at any cost. 

Directed by famed stunt coordinator turned filmmaker Johnny Martin, this action thriller does something quite unique in a way. For an actor like Josh Duhamel, who perhaps will be known for his role in the Transformers live-action franchise, this tends to be more of a grounded effort when it comes to his character. With the ability to perform most of his own stunts, we see Duhamel play an everyman, a genius, who is forced to learn his own survival tactics when he’s confronted by his old boss. 

While Duhamel may sport a look here that screams “survivalist”, his character of Guy is a genius who adapts to survive. Using his knowledge, he relies more on brains than brawn. In other words, he defines the “smart action hero”. While there are those action heroes that rely on brawn to kick butt, Guy here relies on his wits and smarts. Only when he is physically confronted will he rely on using the environment and use whatever he can to protect not only his energy source, but those who care about him. 

Greg Kinnear’s Ranish is quite an intriguing antagonist because he even tends to question his boss’s tenacity when it comes to getting Guy’s energy source. However, it is Marcus, played by Russ Russert, that goes off the hinges and is more tenacious than his handler. Maria Elisa Camargo brings a sense of groundness in the role of Josey as does Michael Zapesotsky’s Chase, the young teen who Guy takes under his wing. 

Off the Grid is a different brand of action film in terms of seeing Josh Duhamel play more of a “smart action hero” and it works. Some great action, an unlikely protagonist who relies on brains and even an antagonist who questions things. It all comes together quite smoothly. 

The film is coming to select theaters, VOD, and Digital on June 27.