LOCKOUT-- in part scripted by Luc Besson, and directed by the script's other two writers-- is no more original than (STARSHIP TROOPERS:) INVASION, being no more than another take on the plotline of John Carpenter's ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK. In place of ex-soldier Snake Plissken, we have an ex-CIA man named "Snow" who is falsely accused of espionage against the U.S. In place of the government needing to have him venture into the hostile territory of New York, the hero must invade a prison-satellite filled with manicas. In place of Plissken's quarry, the President of the U.S., Snow must seek to rescue the President's daughter-- though something close to this variation had already appeared in a pair of Italian ripoffs of ESCAPE.
However, though there's nothing very impressive about LOCKOUT's plot or action-sequences, the Besson film does put across some entertaining chemistry between Snow-- played by Guy Pearce, not exactly the first actor one picks to be a muscular action-hero-- and the President's daughter, played by feisty Maggie Grace. Said chemistry comes about largely because Snow, in contrast to many monosyllabic heroes of similar appearance, shows a mocking sense of humor about nearly everything. Moreover, some of the jokes are actually funny, so that the audience generally wants to see Grace's character get back some of her own.
LOCKOUT could have benefitted from some freakier villains, as the prison-maniacs are fairly uninspired. But overall, it's a good time-waster.
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