See It or Skip It: Safe House

It seems like there are two types of Denzel Washington performances. There are the ones where he plays a nice guy, who is probably pretty close to Denzel in real life. (Think Philadelphia, or Remember the Titans.) We would, at least, like to think he's a nice guy...because the second type scares the bejeezus out of us. He likes to play gruff, scary, bad guys (like in Training Day), and he's at it again in Safe House.

Of course, they always have a story. This time he's a renegade CIA agent is has been brought back in, but has to go on the run with the agent assigned to watching him in the safe house (get it?), played by Ryan Reynolds, who is really just trying to keep up with Washington. It's Denzel's show, and let's never forget it it.

Here's what the critics are saying:

-Richard Roeper: "Nothing really new here, but the cast is first-rate."

-Washington Post: "As fun as the movie occasionally is, it can't make its own drama convincing."

-NPR: "Excellent performances from both Washington and Reynolds can't can't save Safe House from its boilerplate-thriller bones."

-Time: "Safe House plows through its familiar twists with efficient brio and a distinguished supporting cast."

We give it three out of five stars. If you need a quick (but generic) thrill, then See It! (Otherwise, just wait and Netflix It!)