The Commando (2022): A Home-Invasion Action Thriller with Heart—But Heavily Flawed
Released in January 2022 and directed by Asif Akbar, The Commando is a gritty action thriller starring Michael Jai White and Mickey Rourke. With a runtime of 93 minutes, the film aims to blend high-stakes home-invasion action with deeper emotional themes, particularly around post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The result is a movie with ambition and moments of intensity but weighed down by uneven execution.
The story follows DEA agent James Baker (Michael Jai White), a highly trained SWAT operative who is forced to take leave after a mission ends tragically. During a botched raid, several innocent people are killed, leaving Baker mentally scarred and struggling with PTSD. To recover, he returns home to his wife and two teenage daughters, hoping to find peace.
However, the family home holds a dangerous secret: it contains $3 million in hidden cash tied to a criminal named Johnny (played by Mickey Rourke), who has just been released from prison. When Johnny and his ruthless crew learn of the money’s location, they invade the Baker home, turning a peaceful recovery into a bloody siege. What follows is a brutal confrontation between a trained commando battling inner demons and a gang of merciless criminals.
Michael Jai White brings much-needed weight to the role of James Baker. His portrayal captures both the physical intensity expected from a martial arts-trained action star and the emotional vulnerability of a man haunted by trauma. His fight scenes are sharp and believable, and his commitment to the psychological aspects of the character lends the film its most compelling moments.
Unfortunately, the rest of the film doesn’t rise to the same level. Mickey Rourke’s performance as the main villain feels disconnected and underwhelming. Once a commanding screen presence, Rourke appears disengaged here, delivering lines with little menace or energy. The supporting cast—including the actors playing Baker’s family and local law enforcement—offer forgettable performances, often hampered by stilted dialogue and underdeveloped roles.
From a technical standpoint, the film struggles. The pacing is uneven, with dialogue-heavy stretches that sap momentum from the central conflict. Attempts at humor feel out of place, and some editing choices—particularly in action scenes—undercut the suspense. A few sequences border on unintentionally comedic, such as an awkwardly timed bathroom shootout and misplaced one-liners.
Despite these flaws, The Commando tries to offer something more than the typical action formula. Its focus on PTSD and the emotional toll of violence is admirable, even if the delivery feels heavy-handed. The film wants to say something about how trauma lingers even for the strongest among us, but it often gets lost beneath generic shootouts and predictable plot turns.
For fans of low-budget action and Michael Jai White’s martial arts work, there’s some enjoyment to be found. His screen presence and physicality carry the film through its weaker moments. But overall, The Commando falls short of its potential, offering a story that is conceptually rich but poorly executed. While it aims for emotional resonance and thrilling intensity, the film rarely delivers either with enough clarity or conviction to stand out in the crowded world of action cinema.
