Saturday night I went to see the latest action flick from director David Leitch, Bullet Train. I’d seen the trailer a number of times in the months leading up to the release, which really gave nothing away. While the film looked interesting, it wasn’t one that I put on the watch list immediately.

I’m glad I got the opportunity to see the film because it was a lot of fun!

Bullet Train isn’t just your average action film. While it delivers on the expectations of great action sequences, it’s also funny, and well written. There are many layers to the film, which is why I suspect the trailers released don’t give too much away. Each detail in the film is placed there for a purpose. Even down to the runtime, which is the same time a Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kyoto will take.

Luck is the primary theme explored in the film, in how it is perceived, how it is used, and its affect. Each character has a different relationship to luck from using it to an advantage to making your own.

Leading the ensemble cast of codenamed guns for hire is Brad Pitt’s Ladybug, who considers himself to have incredible bad luck and has recently started therapy after the disasters from his last few jobs – someone always ends up getting killed when that is not the intension. Some might say unavoidable in his line of work but from the very first moment we meet him we start to get an understanding of how things don’t go to plan for him.

Ladybug is hired for a simple snatch and grab job – find a suitcase with a train sticker on the handle and then exit the train at the next stop. Of course, with his bad luck, things aren’t that simple and it’s not long until it becomes apparent that there are a number of other assassins on the train after the same suitcase.

Brad Pitt gives a stellar performance in the role and while he really makes the film, I also enjoyed the characters of Tangerine and Lemon (aka the twins) played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brain Tyree Henry. They provide a lot of the comedy within the film as well as some touching emotional moments. As actors, they work very well together. The remainder of the cast, including several cameos, are all fantastic, but you’ll need to go see the film to learn more about them!

The film has many great action sequences included, which can be quite violent but at the same time aren’t overly gory. David Leitch also directed Deadpool 2 if that gives you a better idea of the style to expect. No doubt this film carries a high body count.

One of my favourite sequences is towards the beginning of the film with Tangerine and Lemon arguing over the number of people they killed before getting on the train – sixteen or seventeen. We are then presented with a sequence accompanied by music from Engelbert Humperdinck which breaks the fourth wall, each victim being counted as they are taken out, in a number of often hilarious ways.

As well as great action sequences, the film’s soundtrack of pop-rock is enjoyable and goes towards setting the fun tone the film has. It also features a few Japanese covers of classic songs including Stayin’ Alive and Holding Out for a Hero that I really enjoyed.

If action films are your jam, you’ll have a lot of fun seeing Bullet Train. And why you may not need to see it at the cinema, it does look great up on the big screen and a good option for a date night.