Safe House - 3 smiles

“Safe House,” starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, is a better than average actioner with a hectic plot, a huge body count and two charismatic actors. Washington and Reynolds have terrific chemistry as two men linked by their CIA affiliation. Matt Weston (Reynolds), a low-level CIA ‘housekeeper’ in Cape Town, South Africa, in charge of a safe house where suspects are taken to be interrogated. Tobin Frost (Washington) is the agency’s most notorious traitor. Washington’s top-notch performance suggests deep reserves of knowledge and his character comes off as world-weary and cynical. As the idealistic Weston, Reynolds is perfect. He goes from bored rookie to anxious operative in way over his head and trying desperately to keep up. He even gets beaten up realistically.

Weston and Frost’s paths cross when Frost turns up in Cape Town after years of eluding the authorities. After concealing an all-important computer file just under his skin and escaping a horde of assassins, he turns himself in at the US Embassy. From there, Frost is brought to the house managed by Weston. When the house comes under brutal attack, only Weston and Frost survive. Determined to keep Frost in custody and turn him over to the CIA brass, Weston evades pursuers via high-speed chases and shootouts. Although Frost is an expert manipulator, the story becomes one of mentor and protégé. Director Daniel Espinosa keeps the suspense consistently high up to the climax, which, unfortunately, is predictable. “Safe House,” a familiar tale of conspiracy and corruption with double and triple crosses, is told with energy and style made all the more watchable because of its lead performances. 2/11/12