Having a main character killing ‘bad people’ does not a hero make. The framing in the trailer as well as in the promotional posters for Peppermint (2018) imply something that isn’t there. The character of Riley North (Jennifer Gardner) is not an avenging angel against injustice, she’s simply a violent vigilante looking to kill all the ‘bad people’ and anyone who is mean near her.
Five years ago, Riley’s family was killed by men working for a Cartel centered in Los Angeles. She survived, only to be dragged through a trial where everything from the judge, Defense, and even her own legal team prosecuting the criminals were all paid off. After escaping from the law, she dedicates the next five to exacting her own brand of justice. When the film returns to the present, a troubled cop (John Gallagher Jr.) and his chief (John Ortiz) observe the carnage as it progresses on the anniversary of when Riley’s family were murdered, while social media bounces about debating if her actions make the woman a hero or criminal. Unfortunately, there is little character besides skills with weaponry and conviction for violence to elevate Riley North to being more than person who wants to kill and hurt as many people as possible. Even her soft for children who remind her of the daughter she lost do little to illustrate a connection to the kind-hearted woman from the beginning of the film, outside of attacking one of the last jerks who made her life miserable that day, just cause. When it comes to the idea of characters struggling in the grey between right and wrong as they seek justice, there are better films that have achieved this while also allowing a characters humanity to remain and not hollowed out for violent action.
3 out 10 (Jennifer Gardner has a great deal of experience in the Action Genre and deserves a chance to shine a better film that allows her compassion and her tenacity to literally share the screen and not be split into a before-after-tragedy backstory.)
Andrew j Sparling Film Review 