Safe House
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Metascore
52 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 36 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 191 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Denzel Washington, Robert Patrick, Ryan Reynolds
  • Summary: Tobin Frost is the CIA's most dangerous traitor, who stuns the intelligence community when he surfaces in South Africa. When the safe house to which he's remanded is attacked by brutal mercenaries, a rookie is forced to help him escape. As the masterful manipulator toys with his reluctant protege, the young operative finds his morality tested and idealism shaken. Now they must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. (Universal Pictures)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 36
  3. Negative: 2 out of 36
  1. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Joe Williams
    Feb 10, 2012
    88
    The action is contained within a coherent dramatic structure and the puzzle-box paranoia of spy-agency protocol.
  2. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    Feb 9, 2012
    78
    Director Espinosa stages the endless action with a tremendous flair that recalls John Woo's grittier moments, and cinematographer Oliver Wood, who shot Woo's finest Hollywood moment, "Face/Off," gives the whole violent show a downright brackish look that borders on the sublime.
  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Kim Newman
    Feb 20, 2012
    60
    Tolerably exciting spycraft, but stuck with a see-through plot. Washington and Reynolds are watchable, but not exactly stretched by these roles.
  4. New York Observer
    Reviewed by: Rex Reed
    Feb 14, 2012
    25
    All of which makes me sad about Denzel Washington's disillusioning participation. I forgive him if the money was irresistible enough to pay off a mortgage or put his kids through Harvard, but Safe House is total junk, and he is one of the producers.

See all 36 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 67
  3. Negative: 6 out of 67
  1. bigceebin4
    9
    The film starts out fast and rarely lets up. I found myself rooting for Reynolds the entire movie and against Washington, of course until the end. Both actors played their roles phenomenally.… Expand
  2. werecar
    8
    Is it a great film? No. Does Denzel once again prove he is one of the most amazing actor's of his generation? Yes. Ryan Reynold's is passable, but it really is Denzel's film and he is able to turn a good script into a very good one. Worth seeing alone for Denzel's performance. Loads of action, lots of fun.… Collapse
  3. MarcDoyle
    7
    Knowing that the critics gave it a lukewarm reception, I went in with moderated expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised. Reynolds is not the typical nubie (he's more deliberated, focused, and cerebral), and Denzel does his typical solid job as the dramatic heart and soul of the movie. The look of the film is fantastic, and the action sequences are exciting. The conclusion could have used some work.… Expand
  4. YossGold
    4
    Not too much to say about this one ...

    Predictable, shallow, regurgitated, nothing new under the sun. Borderline booooring.

    Yeah yeah. D    enzel is good, as usual, but even that's not enough to spring life into this "been there, done that" film.

    It's the Jason Bourne series' little brother with down syndrome ...    … Expand

See all 67 User Reviews

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