Overall Rating (1-10): 6
John Henry (2020) [Saban Films]
Country: USA / Running Time: 1:31 / MPAA Rating: R
Director: Will Forbes
Availability: Netflix, Vudu, YouTube
Plot Synopsis: John Henry must face his past in order to help two immigrant kids on the run from the gang he left behind years ago.
The best thing about John Henry is Terry Crews, who has been appearing in supporting roles in television shows and films for many years, but here he plays the film’s titular hero, who carries the film on his (very large) shoulders. Based on the famous character of American folklore, John Henry is a man carrying the burdensome weight of his past, who strives to live a quiet life of peace even though the violent gang life of his youth looms large. Through several flashbacks we learn that John was involved in an accidental shooting that impacted him greatly, which served as the driving force for him to walk into adulthood violence-free. On the surface he seems like a gentle soft-spoken giant who says more with his eyes than with his mouth, which is a credit to Crews, who can express so much with just a glance.
We also meet John’s father BJ (Ken Foree) who imparts unconventional (and often profane) nuggets of wisdom to his son throughout the film in flashbacks and in the present where he is now confined to a wheelchair. And when Berta, a young immigrant girl (Jamila Velazquez) comes to their house seeking shelter from a ruthless sex-trafficking gang, BJ becomes invaluable due to his ability to speak Spanish. It is with Berta’s unexpected arrival at their door, followed by her half-brother Emilio (Joseph Julian Soria) shortly after, that John and BJ’s lives becomes reluctantly entwined with gang leader, Hell’s (Ludacris) violent world. From there no new ground is broken unfortunately, as the film regresses into standard gangland shootouts, tragic deaths and henchmen in-fighting that we’ve all seen countless times before.
However, it is Terry Crews’ understated and effective performance as John Henry that made a fairly generic film worth watching. We have not really seen Crews play a role like this before, which was a refreshing change from his usual tough guys and comedic supporting characters. As John Henry he is the reluctant hero who must do the right thing, even if it means confronting his tormented past head on. To that point, one of the film’s best scenes was when Henry goes to see his grandmother (Lyne Odums) on her birthday, as she holds the key to an important plot development. Their reunion also provides a welcomed respite from the barrage of bloodshed we experienced prior. As Gram, Lyne Odums is a matter-of-fact woman who is surprised she is still alive and is fairly annoyed about it. She has seen a lot in her years as a southern Los Angeles resident and the pain she has seen and experienced has taken its toll. Gram and John Henry share a very real moment on screen that rings true for anyone who was ever close to their grandmother.
As the film reaches its very bloody climax, many people have died and we finally get the showdown between the evil gang leader Hell and John Henry. As Hell, Ludacris is a hateful monster that regards power as the end-all-be-all of existence and holds onto it with an iron fist (and jaw). The finale is satisfying, but predictable and as the credits roll you are left feeling just “meh.” It was an OK film with some good scenes and entertaining performances, but in the end the most memorable element is Terry Crews’ performance. Had I seen John Henry in the theater I surely would have been more disappointed, but having watched it in the comfort of my living room, I am more forgiving. In the end, you could do a LOT worse than John Henry, but I would not recommend you make it #1 in your queue.
