My quick rating – 5.8/10. Right away I saw this flick bring together a cast of seasoned actors, headlined by Ron Perlman as an elderly baker turned reluctant drug smuggler, Harvey Keitel as a menacing kingpin, and Elias Koteas as his loyal henchman. With such acting power on board, the film sets the stage for what could have been an unforgettable action drama. While the performances shine at moments, the film itself sticks too closely to a well-worn formula.
The plot revolves around Perlman‘s character, a baker who finds himself in possession of a giant bag of drugs which he stashes in a loaf of bread after his estranged son steals them from a dangerous criminal organization. Now burdened with the responsibility of protecting his mute granddaughter (played by Emma Ho) while being hunted by the kingpin’s men, the baker must fight his way through a series of confrontations to ensure her safety.
Perlman is undeniably enjoyable to watch (oh Hellboy, do we miss you), especially when he’s taking down young, cocky thugs with brutal efficiency. There’s a certain charm in seeing an older protagonist hold his own in physical combat, even if some of the fight scenes rely heavily on close-up shots to mask the inevitable limitations that come with age.
Emma Ho delivers a commendable performance as the granddaughter who cannot speak, a trope that seems to be increasingly common in action films. Despite the lack of dialogue, she effectively conveys her emotions through expressions, adding an emotional depth to the otherwise standard narrative.
The action sequences are well-choreographed for the most part, but they don’t bring anything new to the table. The story feels familiar—a reluctant hero protecting a vulnerable loved one while fending off relentless villains—a formula we’ve seen countless times before. Unfortunately, Harvey Keitel‘s presence is underutilized, leaving me wishing for more screen time from the veteran actor.
Overall, The Baker is a serviceable action film with solid performances, particularly from Perlman and Ho, but it fails to break any new ground. It offers fleeting moments of entertainment but ultimately feels like another by-the-numbers addition to the action genre.
Amazon along with a handful of streamers are carrying this one right now.