REVIEW: THE RIP

3.5/5

Good Rip Hunting

113 Mins. Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins & Kyle Chandler. Screenplay: Joe Carnahan. Director: Joe Carnahan. On: Netflix.

A.W.T.G.G. Are we the good guys? That's what's tattooed to Matt Damon's hands on his new movie 'The Rip', streaming now on Netflix, for all those who don't fancy making a pilgrimage to 'The Bone Temple', '28 Years Later' (do so). And when it comes to Artists Equity, like his company with constant collaborating co-star and frequent flying friend, Ben Affleck, it appears they are always and always will be. The dynamic duo's (even though one never got to play Robin) revolutionary company promises fair pay across the board for cast and crew. And now, with their new deal with the world's most successful streaming service, everyone on board will receive a bonus if this big picture is a hit. That's worth hitting the "continue watching" tab for. And we promise you, this all-action affair with tense and thrilling twists you'll never see coming is no rip. It's the real deal, Holyfield.

Hollywood heavy hitter movies usually end up fair to middling on Netflix. See, 'The Gray Man' with Ryan Gosling and a charismatic cap villain in Chris Evans. More 'Red Notice' picture perfect postcard locations than movie quotations. Yet 'The Rip' tears apart all of that. Sure, it doesn't raise any cerebral questions, like the life and death, biblical proportions of '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple', disguised as a zombie movie, but it does the stakes. Right there with some of its better TV shows, like Jude Law and Jason Bateman's 'Black Rabbits'. Or the new 'His & Hers' of Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal. And that is thanks, in part, to the classic combination and perfect partnership of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in this hit flick about cops and those crooked ones that may as well be robbers. Affleck plays gruff, disgruntled police to perfection (after all, he was 'The World's Greatest Detective') and Damon, again on another rich form, is like you've never seen him before. All before 'The Odyssey' of what could be his best year yet. Stepping it up, like he always does with Nolan.

Affleck was one of the only outsiders able to visit Christopher's set. That's how tight he and Damon are. They've appeared together in more movies recently. Their 'Rashomon' inspired 'The Last Duel' with Ridley Scott. Or how Nike wooed Michael Jordan with Amazon's 'Air' (amazing). But this is 'Dogma' nostalgia for the kids who came up writing their career path and are now legends in the game. A nice nod to 'Good Will Hunting' is so beautiful you may actually just tear-up with the subtle symbolism, as it's clear these men have made no mistakes in the movies. Matt also tells us, in this perfect plot, that Netflix movies actually demand that the plot points be reiterated several times over the movie for those stuck on their phones (at least they don't watch the movie on those). But in this artillery of action, even the most ardent and aggressive scrollers will have their attention attached back. Affleck has been known to direct great gun play like Michael Mann (see, 'The Town' and 'Live By Night'). But this ain't him. Instead, 'The Rip' is written and directed with dynamite by Joe Carnahan ('Bad Boys For Life', 'The A-Team', 'Smokin' Aces'), running carnage. Not to mention, blood, guts, bullets and high octane, in this pride and glory.

It's also not just Affleck riding shotgun (and deft with one in the driving seat) with Damon in this cop car. An all-star cast with that Netflix money makes for an epic ensemble. There's beef with the good two service issue shoes of Steven Yeun, whose stock continues to rise thanks to going by the script or recent successes. Speaking of which, newly minted Golden Globe Winner Teyana Taylor ('One Battle After Another', last year's best) is here too. Undeniable as always, but a little underused, as never again she will be. These bad boys, in Miami, Dade, have further South Beach heat brought out by 'The Flash' of 'The Young and The Restless'' very own Sasha Calle. Batman has his work cut out for him with this Supergirl, although they've never actually met before (that was Keaton). Her late grandmother's house has much more inheritance to it than meets the eye and the corrupt cops and cartel that will come out of the woodwork, like mice, to play, like warriors when glass bottles shatter on silent sidewalks. Come out, rising star Catalina Sandino Moreno ('Maria Full Of Grace', 'A Most Violent Year', 'Ballerina'), martial artist Scott Adkins on delightful desk duty and legend Kyle Chandler. You won't know what's what. Or what or who hit you. And that's precisely what 'The Rip' wants. Right on the money. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Triple Frontier', 'The Town', 'Training Day'.