The Machine (2023)

The Machine is the kind of loud, shamelessly goofy action-comedy that wins you over by sheer momentum: it barrels forward on Bert Kreischer’s committed, self-mythologizing charm and never pretends it’s too cool to be ridiculous. Director Peter Atencio keeps the pace snappy and the jokes quick-witted, while the film’s secret weapon is Mark Hamill, who turns the gruff, estranged-dad role into a surprisingly disarming counterweight to the chaos. The vibe is rowdy and crude in a way that feels like a late-night story that got out of hand—then somehow sprouted car chases and criminal mayhem. If you don’t like broad, boozy humor or your action-comedy needs to be slick and subtle, this may not be your ride, but if you’re on the fence and want something fast-moving and fun, it’s an easy yes.

The Machine is trying to turn Bert Kreischer’s famous “wild Russia” stand-up bit into a big, dumb action-comedy with a father-son reconciliation tucked inside. The problem is it often plays like an extended in-joke for existing fans, with loud, overbearing energy standing in for sharper writing, and the character beats feel thin when the movie asks you to care. If you don’t already enjoy Kreischer’s persona, the humor can come off obnoxious and the plot feels like bland kidnapping-and-chase filler between flashbacks. That said, Mark Hamill brings some welcome bite, and a few set pieces land, so it’s not unwatchable—just very specific, and not worth forcing if this brand of bro-chaos comedy isn’t your thing.