The story shifts the action to Spokane, Washington, where Marine-on-leave Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth) and his hot-headed younger brother Matt (Josh Peck) witness a sudden airborne invasion. Escaping to the nearby woods with a group of high schoolers, they form the "Wolverines," a guerrilla resistance dedicated to sabotaging the occupiers and reclaiming their home.
Directed by veteran stunt coordinator Dan Bradley, the film features some well-choreographed urban combat and explosion-heavy sequences that are "consistently entertaining" for casual viewing.
Chris Hemsworth brings much-needed grit and "Thor-like" leadership to the role of Jed, managing to elevate some of the clunkier dialogue.
The 2012 remake of attempts to recapture the high-stakes, "what-if" patriotism of the 1984 cult classic by swapping Soviet paratroopers for a North Korean invasion. While it features an impressive cast of future stars—including a pre-Marvel Chris Hemsworth—the film largely struggles to justify its existence, often feeling more like a generic action flick than a meaningful survival story. The Plot: Wolverines 2.0
Seeing a young Josh Hutcherson, Adrianne Palicki, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan together is a treat for fans of modern pop culture, even if they aren't given much depth to work with. The Lows: Logic and Tone REVIEW: “Red Dawn” (2012) | Keith & the Movies