Bullet Train

REVIEW:

This entire review is going to be praising Tangerine (Aaron Taylor Johnson) and Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry) because Bullet Train would be nowhere near as entertaining without them. Brad Pitt did a fine job as the lead and was charismatic as always but Aaron Taylor Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry absolutely stole the show. Directed by David Leitch, the film starts as a straightforward retrieval mission where Ladybug (Pitt) is hired to grab a briefcase from a bullet train and quickly becomes a deliriously fun clash of assassins, competing agendas and absurd coincidences.

What immediately stands out is how Leitch takes a simple, almost throwaway premise and treats it with absolute stylistic commitment. The result is a film that looks and moves like a comic book adaptation, even though it is not one. The neon glare of the carriages, the kinetic transitions between compartments and the way each assassin gets a mini introduction all contribute to an energy that never really drops. But for all the visual flair, nothing energises the film more than Tangerine and Lemon stepping into frame.

Aaron Taylor Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry are so good together that it feels like the film bends around them whenever they appear. They play brothers, a pairing that should not work on paper but somehow makes perfect emotional sense, and they function as the movie’s heartbeat. Their banter is hilarious without ever feeling written, their chemistry looks effortless and the way they bounce from insults to affectionate bickering gives the film a grounded humanity amid all the chaos. I truly believe a lesser pair of actors could have sunk the humour of this film in minutes.

One of the best things about their dynamic is how distinctly they complement each other. Tangerine carries himself like a cool, sharp dressed professional who knows exactly how dangerous he is and Taylor Johnson plays him with a swagger that feels strangely timeless. Lemon, meanwhile, is this delightful contradiction, a hulking hitman whose entire emotional compass is guided by Thomas the Tank Engine. Henry leans into the sincerity of that quirk rather than the absurdity and that is why it works so well. It is not a joke at Lemon’s expense, it is a lens into how he reads the world.

Whenever the plot shifts back to Ladybug or the other assassins you enjoy what is happening but you immediately start anticipating the next Tangerine and Lemon scene. Their subplot, protecting a target, arguing about mishaps and debating who is a Diesel or a Percy, becomes the soul of the movie. And honestly, I can only pray to the movie gods that they get their own spinoff set in their earlier days. The dynamic is too good to be left behind and I would rush to see that film without hesitation. Just take my money.

That is not to say the supporting cast does not shine. Bullet Train has a strong ensemble and everyone gets their moment of absurdity, violence or comedic timing. Leitch clearly enjoys building a world full of eccentric lethal personalities and even though some characters come and go quickly the film never feels empty. But even surrounded by a cast this varied, Tangerine and Lemon still manage to dominate the screen with pure presence.

Visually the film is a treat. It is vibrant, colourful and embraces its heightened tone with confidence. The action is exactly what you expect from David Leitch, crisp choreography, clear geography within the fights, clever use of the cramped train environment and a willingness to let physicality be funny. Leitch understands that action does not have to sacrifice humour to be exciting and Bullet Train is one of the best recent examples of that blend working flawlessly.

In the end, Bullet Train is simply a highly entertaining action comedy with style, sass and two scene stealing performances that elevate the entire experience. Brad Pitt may be the centre of the plot but Aaron Taylor Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry are the centre of the fun. Their bond, their bickering, their comedic timing, it all makes the movie feel bigger, brighter and far more memorable than its straightforward premise suggests. It is chaotic, colourful, relentless and a blast from start to finish but above all else, it is the Tangerine and Lemon show.