Oscar® winner Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star in the action-thriller Safe House. Washington plays the most dangerous renegade from the CIA, who comes back onto the grid after a decade on the run. When the South African safe house he’s remanded to is attacked by mercenaries, a rookie operative (Reynolds) escapes with him. Now, the unlikely allies must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead.

For the past year, Matt Weston has been frustrated by his inactive, backwater post in Cape Town. A “housekeeper” who aspires to be a full-fledged agent, the loyal company man has been waiting for an opportunity to prove himself. When the first and only occupant he’s had proves to be the most dangerous man he’s ever met, Weston readies for duty.

Tobin Frost has eluded capture for almost a decade. One of the best ops men that the CIA’s known, the ex-intelligence officer has given up assets and sold military intel to anyone with cash since he turned. From trading secrets to North Korea to aiding splinter cells, the damage he’s done to the U.S. is immeasurable. And he’s now back on the reservation with a secret.

As soon as Frost is brought in for debriefing, mercenaries come and tear apart Weston’s safe house. Barely escaping, the unlikely partners must discover if their attackers have been sent by terrorists or someone on the inside who will kill anyone standing in the way. Now it’s up to Weston to figure out who he can trust before they’re both eliminated from the game. www.nooneissafe.com

Safe House has a great trailer. Watch it.

I realized that after watching the full-length feature from Spaniard debutant director Daniel Espinosa. Not more than the first thirty minutes of the film is heavily featured in the shots, and enough is done to set up the film without giving much away. This is good.

If you've faithfully followed my instructions (i.e. watching the trailer), here's the next one. Tone down your expectations and buy a smaller sized soft drink than you usually would. I'll explain my stand shortly. But first...

Denzel Washington takes his turn to play CIA's most dangerous operative gone rogue - Tobin Frost. He has the moves, the brains and a motive. Ryan Reynolds is on the other end of the spectrum as Matt Weston, a rookie in the Agency eagerly waiting for an opportunity to shine. (In some ways, the set-up reflects reality, except Reynolds doesn't succeed outside of the film's plot.) When Frost turns up at a secure facility Weston has listlessly managed for a year, his life turns into a fast-paced Hollywood action thriller.

As is the case with the genre - there are car chases, violent skirmishes and the inevitable mole. The problem is, many films employ these devices in very dissimilar fashion and have succeeded. Comparisons are boundless, yet the real trouble with Safe House is the lack of plot and strong characters - the latter being the greater problem. Washington's Frost is undeniably cold (pun unintended), calculative and ruthless. But that's it. The script doesn't foster any kind of noteworthy relationship between Frost and Weston. They're both proven actors, but just not here.

Back to un-idealistic reality. This is an action movie. The fight choreography is swift and deadly. The action sequences match up engagingly. The editing complements the haste-centric quality of the film; the camera does shake often but generally captures the volatile atmosphere with sufficient dexterity. Cape Town, where this film is shot, lends dread and grime to the brooding atrocities that unravel.

The 117-minute running length is indulgent and the editor's refusal to pare down half an hour warrants a downsize to your drink. Then expect to see an A-list cast barely perform in yet another derivative testosterone booster. And you might just find yourself enjoying Safe House.