KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE

RATHER THAN giving 1989’s cheesy-but entertaining Kickboxer a Tony Jaa-inspired 21st-century update, this remake is a lumbering retread, starring one-time Hugh Jackman stunt-double Alain Moussi. He’s the new Kurt Sloane (previously Jean-claude Van Damme), desperate for payback against Muay Thai champ Tong Po (Dave Bautista) for killing his brother. So he needs to be trained by the unorthodox Durand — aka Van Damme, recast as the mentor. JCVD’S involvement proves this film’s smartest move, as he fills the charisma cavity left by the blander-than-beige Moussi. But, despite his best quadricep-stretching efforts, the action veteran can’t rescue this charmless, meat-tenderising parade.