Finally Adkins get a role properly suited to his skills
For the record, I am a fan. I have an Adkins film on my list of all-best movies, a claim few other reviewers can make. But, at the same time, I have been outspoken in my view that, since his Boyka films, he has not really found an outlet to best showcase his talent. TAKE COVER 2024 changes all that. Writer Joshua Todd James has cleverly turned a hi-rise apartment into a killbox, showing once again how a limited set does not have be a disadvantage. Properly done, the suspense becomes palpable. The script cleverly pushes the “turnabout” trope — Adkins’s being targeted by a faraway shooter works well because, in the story, he himself is also a sniper. Clever! There is a lot of action and tension in Take Cover, and many of Adkins’ special skills are effectively deployed for the first time in quite a while. Recommended. ((Designated “IMDb Top Reviewer.” Please check out my list “167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Almost, but not quite.
I’ve always been a fan of Adkins and felt he deserved lead roles in action movies instead of always being supporting cast, and in this movie, he finally got that. But as usual, he’s always in these B movies and usually with newb filmmakers, as is the case here. He did however carry the film, along with the rest of the cast that did their best with the terrible material they had to work with.

This movie is stuntman turned newb director Nick McKinless’ first full length feature film, and I have to say, he did not disappoint – especially considering the terrible screenplay he had to work with. He directed this movie and his cast very well to the point he seemed like a seasoned director. Camera shots, action scenes and choreography were impressive, and he should be proud of his achievements. I feel McKinless has found his calling as a director.

However, where this movie failed miserably is in newb writer Joshua Todd James’ terrible screenplay, that had the most pointless and cringeworthy dialogue I’ve ever heard. It’s as if it was written by a bunch of high school drama class teenagers – riddled with annoying cuss words and frat-house back and forth bromance “my d*ick is bigger than yours” type dialogue. Then in between that, it was constant blah blah blahhh cringe dialogue that was mostly filler and did nothing to progress the narrative. This movie was literally the most boring and pointless sniper action movie I’ve seen.

From the entire middle act and on where they were hiding behind the sofas, was just nonsense conversation riddled with cliches, tedious exposition, shallow characterization and pointless dialogue. Even with the very short 80 min runtime (not counting all the opening and closing credits), the entire movie felt like it dragged on for over 2 hours. There just wasn’t enough substance in this screenplay to be a full length movie, and would’ve been much more enjoyable as a short film. Never mind that the little substance there was, was riddled with plot holes and cliched parts taken from every other “one last job” movie out there.

Nevertheless, Adkins shined in this one, and it’s too bad he spent most of his screen time blabbing nonsense instead of showcasing his action and fighting skills more than the barely five minutes he was given. It’s a generous 5/10 from me.

Finally Adkins get a role properly suited to his skills
For the record, I am a fan. I have an Adkins film on my list of all-best movies, a claim few other reviewers can make. But, at the same time, I have been outspoken in my view that, since his Boyka films, he has not really found an outlet to best showcase his talent. TAKE COVER 2024 changes all that. Writer Joshua Todd James has cleverly turned a hi-rise apartment into a killbox, showing once again how a limited set does not have be a disadvantage. Properly done, the suspense becomes palpable. The script cleverly pushes the “turnabout” trope — Adkins’s being targeted by a faraway shooter works well because, in the story, he himself is also a sniper. Clever! There is a lot of action and tension in Take Cover, and many of Adkins’ special skills are effectively deployed for the first time in quite a while. Recommended. ((Designated “IMDb Top Reviewer.” Please check out my list “167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Easy to understand, thrilling, relaxed and smooth
When you take cover, you think more. This movie gives you laid back moments to think about its themes. The acting and relationship between characters are really relaxed and natural so that you can really delve into them. The transition between action and non-action scenes is balanced so you can embrace the themes easier. The twists and turns are well-positioned so that it can control your emotions, including elevating, lowering or holding your emotions for the right moments. The movie overall is action-packed so as to evoke your attention but the action is kept at a plausible amount and in the right moments so that your stomach can digest the movie. Everything is not over the top and not too crooked so that you can have an easy to understand and easy to embrace experience. Watching this movie, you may think deeply about the theme of hiding and other themes, including morality.