What's that saying about copying stuff and flattery? Eh, can't remember. But I *can* remember the 1996 Schwarzenegger feature, which this film takes a wealth of inspiration from, following the same beats and set-pieces, albeit in different settings. With that in mind, it can be hard to assess Eraser Reborn on its own merits, as it is dripping with nostalgia, with many of its best moments and one liners ("you're early!", "you're late!") ripped straight from the original. You literally see them coming, and this can leave you questioning 'is the entertainment I get from this film therefore earned?
In the 'making of', the crew describe how today, the act of erasing people would be more complicated with the advent of social media, the ability to track anyone technologically adding further stakes. This idea is occasionally used, and effectively I might add, but it would have been better if they further leaned into this.
Pollard (Dominic Sherwood) is no Schwarzenegger - and yet, he is very likable in this movie. Not only that, he is believable in his role, appearing confident, courageous and intelligent - and the way he cocks his pistol is kick-ass. Speaking of, he kicks a lot of ass too.
The film opens similarly to the original, with Pollard 'erasing' a man (Eddie Ramos' Sugar) who broke cover from the witness protection program. I wonder if he will be important later? Pollard is then assigned a new case; Rina Kimura (Jacky Lai - who could easily give Vanessa Williams a run for her money), recently widowed after helping the FBI gather intelligence on her former criminal husband's notorious operation.
Pursued by the gang her husband ran, Pollard 'erases' Rina, and moves her to Cape Town, where a majority of the film takes place; an area where Pollard and his best friend & mentor, Whitlock (McKinley Belcher III), hide their subjects. Where James Caan in the original gave a sleazy contemptuous 'I'm a businessman' routine, McKinley genuinely makes this role his own, being a pretty cool cat with some great lines.
Sherwood and Lai work incredibly well together. There is that 'will they or won't they' kind of chemistry between them, and their characters must overcome issues of trust and acceptance, with Lai especially having one of the best, and strongest personal monologues in the film. She is capable of handling herself - but believably so - never does she come off as someone who is superior to Pollard, sometimes using her scheming intellect and physical beauty to her advantage, not just her powerful kicks.
When the whole eraser program comes under threat from...someone (three guesses who), Pollard must use all of his skills to help get Rina off the grid, protect her with his life, and unravel the conspiracy before he himself is...well, erased.
Though this feature is described as a B-movie, the choreography, effects, cinematography and music really go above and beyond to amazingly strengthen the film's presentation.
The fight scenes often feel more grounded in realism than the original, with characters clearing rooms the way you might expect an expert officer to do. The aforementioned fights often seem glitzier than they might in an average B-grader, especially with the explosions that are transformed nicely by additional effects layered on top of them. That said, the violence feels toned down in contrast.
Set predominantly in Cape Town, the movie uses this setting to its advantage, which really separates it from the grey skeletal city structures of the original movie. Moreover, a lot of the film happens during the day, which helps to show how beautifully shot this film is when on location.
And don't get me started on the music - the main theme is just one of those catchy tunes you could just listen to over and over.
Ultimately, the movie objectively takes a lot of inspiration from the original, which can feel a bit cheap. But there are still three excellent reasons to see this film; the solid choreography, the feature's vibrant color pallet, and the talented beauty that is Jacky Lai.
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