Brick Mansions directed by Camille Delamarre, stars the late Paul Walker. It is the American remake of the 2004 French movie District 13 (Banlieu 13) by writer-producer Luc Besson with the setting changed from Paris to a dystopian Detroit. Banlieu 13 introduced le parkour to many people around the world. If you don’t know what parkour is, it’s described as the “flight” part of the “fight or flight response,” emphasising escape instead rather than risking injury. Since District 13, it’s appeared in movies like Breaking and Entering, Prince of Persia, and in video games like Assassin’s Creed, Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland, and Tron Evolution.

District 13 rejected wire fu or CGI, and favourable comparisons were drawn with Tony Jaa’s Ong Bak. David Belle, one of the creators of parkour, starred in the original film, and reprises his role in Brick Mansions. Besson teamed up with writers Robert Mark Kamen and Bibi Naceri for this one. Does it live up to the original?

Brick Mansions is an impressive action flick, opening with two pulse pounding chases, one on foot, one by car (sort of), showing off Belle’s impressive repertoire for back flips and cartwheels, and Walker’s trademark cheeky grin and deadpan delivery, casually delivering a druglord to the station in the most amazing manner I’ve seen yet. RZA is amazing, stealing the show as Tremaine, the drug lord/self-described “king” of Brick Mansions, an area of Detroit walled off from “polite society.” Walking the tightrope between class and brutal violence, he’s charismatic, scary and funny as required. Everyone involved clearly had a blast, particularly Walker.

The plot is absolute nonsense, but you’re not watching for the plot. You get backflips, you get explosions, you get car chases, you get a fun movie. A fitting tribute to Walker.

Donal O’Connor