I’m ambivalent about this Mel Gibson-as-antihero movie. On the one hand, Gibson’s character really has no redeeming values. He commits murder for revenge or to prove a point. He is someone I hope my neighbors don’t admire. On the other hand, he is also smart, and watching him outwit his opponents is often satisfying. This is one of the most entertaining action movies since last summer. The energy was great, and the 60s cop-funk soundtrack was the perfect complement. If you are morally stable and unsqueamish, give it a try.
Payback
**1/2published February 18, 1999