action hero essay by rulon openshaw

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Action Hero

By Rulon Openshaw

• Jan. 5, 1997

A few years ago, I stopped at a neighborhood market for some late-night ice cream. As I got out of my car, a young man hailed me from across the street. He was college-aged and dressed to the nines: expensive pullover, dress shirt and slacks so sharply creased they could have cut frozen fish. I thought he wanted directions; he had that urgent late-for-a-party look. When he reached me, he pulled up his sweater and smoothly drew a pistol from inside his waistband. ''Get in the car,'' he ordered.

My brain went into hyperspeed. I remembered watching a personal-security expert on a talk show advise victims not to stare at an assailant's face. His reasoning was that if a robber thinks you cannot identify him, he's less likely to kill you. No one asked how much less likely. Given its importance to my future, I focused instead on his weapon -- a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver, blued steel, short barrel. I'd fired others like it at pistol ranges. This was no mouse gun. Nervously, I directed my gaze lower. His shoes were highly polished. Strange as it sounds, I admired his sense of style.

The click of the revolver's hammer being cocked snapped my head up eye to eye with his. So much for not looking at his face. Contrary to the belief that when death appears imminent, a person's entire life passes before him, I was completely focused on the moment. Instinct told me that a car trip with this guy would turn out to be a one-way journey for me. I held out my keys. ''Take my car,'' I said in a tone I prayed would inspire calmness and reason. ''I'm not getting in.''

He hesitated, then ignoring my proffered keys, thrust out a hand and yanked off my shoulder bag. In it were my wallet and a couple of rented videos. He took a step back, his gun still aimed at me. Neither of us spoke.

Laughter broke the silence, making us both turn. Several couples were leaving a Chinese restaurant on the opposite corner. The gunman gave them a fast scan, then lowered his revolver. Holding it against his thigh to conceal it, he began to stride quickly across the almost-trafficless street, my bag clutched under his arm.

Incredibly, I took off after him. ''Hey,'' I shouted to the people in front of the restaurant. ''This guy just robbed me.'' I was halfway across the street when I realized my would-be posse was not mounting up. The gunman, now aware of my proximity, pivoted in my direction. As I watched him raise his gun, everything went into slow motion. A tongue of flame flashed from the snub-nosed barrel, followed by a loud crack.

I lost my balance. I felt no pain, but when I looked down, I saw my left leg flopped out sideways at my shin. A half-dollar-sized spot of blood stained my jeans. When I looked up, my assailant was sprinting down a dark side street.

Later that night at a nearby hospital, I was told that the bullet had fractured my tibia and fibula, the two bones connecting the knee and ankle. Doctors inserted a steel rod secured by four screws into my leg. They also gave me a ''prosthesis alert'' card to show security personnel if the rod set off a metal detector.

But a remarkable thing began to happen -- my popularity soared. When friends introduced me as ''the guy who got shot,'' women who a moment before had no interest in me came after me like groupies. Men wanted to buy me drinks. They considered me ''brave'' for running after the gunman. I'm reminded of war movies in which the green infantrymen behave reverentially around the grizzled vets who have ''seen action.''

I found it difficult to forgive myself for what I considered an act of colossal folly. Sometimes, I thought I had chased the kid out of anger at being victimized; other times, I attributed my actions to an adrenaline rush that needed a physical outlet. Whatever the reason, I knew it had nothing to do with bravery.

Clearly, I was being given credit for something I didn't deserve, yet I was reluctant to give up my newly acquired status. After all, it wasn't as if I were taking an active part in any deception; I was merely allowing people to come to whatever conclusions they wished. I finally rationalized my decision to maintain the status quo: I considered any misperception to be my compensation for having gone through a horrible situation.

Things went well until the day I was approached by a panhandler. On a whim, I told him I had no money because I'd been unable to work since being shot in a robbery. His eyes grew large, and it was obvious that the information impressed him. ''That's heavy,'' he said, then leaned closer, conspiratorially. ''Did you get caught?''

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'An Action Hero' movie review: Fun, farcical, and fabulous caper-comedy

In a particular scene in 'An Action Hero', Ayushmann Khurrana’s vainglorious superstar Maanav is flat on the floor, pinned down by Jaideep Ahlawat’s Jat-brute Bhoora Solanki. Bhoora is almost sitting on Maanav, like a sleep demon, and in this tense moment, he spills the actual reason behind all the chasing. “People leave their work to watch your movies,” he screams at Maanav.

“What you consider your wealth is our love, which we have given, with our will. So, when we ask you to dance, you dance, when we ask you to sing, you sing and when we ask you to click a photo with us, you click a photo with us.” Maanav starts laughing at this, like a villain waiting to press a button on some secret landmine. “I thought you had come for revenge, but it’s actually your ego.”

Fragile egos set a lot of balls rolling (and busting) in this mad caper which turns ludicrous by the minute yet remains massively entertaining. Maanav is the eponymous Action Hero, who thinks stardom is measured by how long people wait for a picture with you. This doesn’t sit well with (land) lordly Vicky Solanki, brother of local politician Bhoora Solanki. A car chase, in which a Mustang is being tailed by a Fortuner, ensues. One might expect a crash but director Anirudh Iyer saves it for later.

The confrontation scene between Maanav and Vicky, on a lonely road in Haryana, is exemplary. It is devoid of any background music till Maanav shoves him and hits his head on a rock. The score kicks in only when the realization sinks in.

What follows is Maanav, running in the shoes of Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya to the UK, only to be pursued by the vengeful big brother Bhoora. Jaideep Ahlawat can play raging beasts in his sleep but this one isn’t just gleefully parodic, it’s also deep and makes one question: aren’t revenge flicks just about the male ego scorned? Ayushmann might not have the image of an action hero but he dexterously plays the narcissistic star. The way he puts on his sunglasses and switches on the actor mode, even when he is being labelled as a fugitive, will surely induce some chortles. Even in the action sequences, Ayushmann is glorious. He will cannonball off car tops, swing on scaffoldings, and deliver clean flying kicks to prove his battle mettle.

It is also interesting to notice how different the action styles are throughout the film (two stunt directors: Ian Van Temperly from the UK and Stunt Silva from India, were employed.) Ayushmann’s action in the beginning, while he is shooting, is (super) heroic, later, it becomes believable yet choreographed, while Jaideep’s remains consistently mad-bashing.

In the film, a policeman questions the relevance of a director of photography in society. But nobody can question cinematographer Kaushal Shah’s prowess. An Action Hero is beautifully shot in the grey and rainy UK countryside and thanks God they don’t show Big Ben or the Union Jack.

Anirudh Iyer’s direction is sharp and slick and he puts his signature subtly. Notice the scene where he goes 360 degrees across Bhoora’s house, showcasing the mourners and the white background during Vicky’s last rites. Or, how the camera swings with the revolver when Maanav boomerangs it towards a goon. Masterful.

The satirical bits are both the strengths and the weaknesses of An Action Hero. The media circus over Maanav’s predicament is funny till it gets overbearing. The film, however, scores on its absurdist humour. Sample this scene: Maanav is kidnapped by a bunch of thugs. He asks them who they are, but they don’t tell. He offers them money, but they refuse. He asks them why they have abducted him, they say it’s their work. “But people work for money, bro,” reasons Maanav. “No, we love our job,” replied the gangsters.

Beneath all the style and silliness, there is still substance in An Action Hero. In the shiny garb of an action-thriller, it talks about the brittleness of star culture, fandom bordering on ownership, and the ego at the centre of it all.

As Maanav sums it up: “What is happening here? Is this a movie?”

Film: An Action Hero Director: Anirudh Iyer Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Jaideep Ahlawat, Neeraj Madhav, Harsh Chhaya Rating: 3.5/5

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An Action Hero Reviews

An Action Hero chooses victimhood over vicious satire. The humour is forced, the satire is toothless, and the meta-commentary pedestrian.

Full Review | Feb 2, 2023

An Action Hero is a completely predictable chase movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. It manages to be entertaining because of its cheeky comedy, thrilling action, and satirical take on celebrity worship of movie stars.

Full Review | Jan 7, 2023

Khurrana’s skill at playing a man in a tight spot is most useful in a film that frequently paints itself into corners.

Full Review | Dec 5, 2022

The Ayushmann Khurrana starrer doesn’t spare anyone, including – and especially – the Indian public and media’s confused, helpless, and toxic relationship with stardom.

The film bustles with coiled energy every time Jaideep Ahlawat is on the screen as a toughie responding to a rough, ready and rustic notion of justice and self-worth.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 5, 2022

Not everything in the plot adds up and you wish the film was tighter, but it does have a fair dose of action and comedy backed with good performances.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 5, 2022

Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat's hilarious and thrilling cat and mouse chase cannot be missed.

Ayushmann Khurrana-Jaideep Ahlawat deliver a caper which is mostly fun...

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 5, 2022

An Action Hero's oil and water combination of genres doesn't always gel, gets overly far-fetched in places but still holds up on the strength of whimsy and surprise.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 4, 2022

Kudos to Anirudh Iyer for making a witty and clever film, keeping a healthy mix of satire, action and comedy to keep one entertained throughout.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 3, 2022

Bollywood strikes back in this sparkling meta-comedy.

Full Review | Dec 2, 2022

A pulpy love letter to cinema.

With no pretensions to being deep, yet without insulting viewer intelligence, by giving us little time to think between twists, shootouts and chases, An Action Hero (...) ends up being a fun package.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.75/5 | Dec 2, 2022

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