Bullet to the Head - C

Rated R, 97 minutes 

"Bullet to the Head" is mindless, guilty-pleasure entertainment

It is what it is. The crime action "Bullet to the Head" is the type of dumbed-down, simple fun that veteran Sylvester Stallone is known for. Though it could've been one of those it's so-bad-it's-good type of dramas, it's really a guilty-pleasure, over-the-top  and exceeding violent film that at least doesn't take itself too seriously, with Stallone playing the good-bad guy as if he really enjoys it. The movie tells the story of a New Orleans hitman (Stallone) and a DC cop (Korean actor Sung Kang) who form an alliance to bring down the killers of their respective partners. Directed by veteran filmmaker Walter Hill ("48 Hrs," "The Warriors"), the mindless simplicity of "Bullet to the Head" is what works best. In addition, Stallone is more of an actor-for-hire here, in that he doesn't direct, produce or pen the script, all good things that work to "Head's" advantage. It also helps that the source material is a somewhat unusual one: Alexis Nolent's French graphic novel 'Du Plomb Dans La Tete," though I can't imagine having Stallone star improves upon the material, not to mention that Stallone has decent chemistry with nimble Korean actor Kang, best known in the States for having been in a couple of the "Fast and Furious" films. If you've been wondering what '80's star Christian Slater has been up to since all of his TV series have been canceled, you may want to check him out here as a supporting player who has an unfortunate demise. Things explode, there's loads of gunshots, blood, and other sorts of violence, but that should come as no surprise, and on a low-enough level, "Bullet to the Head" should please Stallone's fans just fine. Though by no means an exercise in subtlety, acting greatness or revelation, go into "Bullet to the Head" with very low-expectations and you'll be entertained.

Wes's Grade: C