MOVIE REVIEW - Haywire

Lot's of movie this weekend, and no matter what the box office figures are, I think the real winner from the weekend will be the star of the new thriller, Haywire.

Gina Carano is ex-marine, now defense contractor operative Mallory Kane in this star studded winter time movie that is way better than it's January release date. Kane has been set up by someone to take the fall in the murder of person of interest she rescued in Europe. He is later found dead, and for some reason, someone wants her to take the blame for this international incident. And then they want her dead.

Haywire also stars, Micheal Douglas, Antonio Bandaras, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum and Bill Paxton. Great cast, all cast well. All seemingly hitching their wagon to the Carano wagon which they are betting is going full speed ahead.

Carano is a beautiful former Mixed Martial Arts Champion who has been in a few movies before, but not in a role like this. And this is refreshing too, all 5' 8" 150 pounds of her. This is no stick thin model/actress. Make no mistake, this is her movie. As Kane, she is a highly trained, and decorated operative with amazing skills. But don't be fooled, this is not some over-the-top, silly action movie. There is virtually no gun play in this movie, and it's not some special effects fest. Kane is a real person with real skills.

And Carano does it all herself. She is the real deal. She will stand way taller than all the other females so-called action stars who do none of the tough stuff. Carano is very believable and uses her own real life skills to give us some very good fight scenes. These scenes are very authentic. They are not laced with silly sound effects and dramatic music. They are just her and the guy who who's butt she's kicking. As Kane tries to flee Europe and clear her good name. Also, she trying to track down the double-crossers who set her up. These scenes are very good with real sounds, real reaction, and in real time. They are numerous and very well done. And she does it all.

They don't demand a ton from her in this movie as far as real, deep acting is concerned, but what they do ask, she gives it to them. They also don't sex this up too much, and that let's her credibility come through. She is naturally very sexy, and easy on the eye, but they don't exploit her and that's a great decision. The cast around her lifts her up and makes this really work. The door is open for more of this story to play out, that would be welcome.

If I was a female action movie star in Hollywood right now, I would be looking in the rear view mirror. Because Carano is coming, and she is real. She looks it, she plays it, and she is it. With respects to say, Angelina Jolie, Carano is the real deal. And not a actress waiting for the stunt people to make her look good.

Haywire. Regardless of the weekend take, a star is born in Gina Carano. She is an original.