Summary

• One More Shot outshines its predecessor thanks to the intense onscreen chemistry between Adkins and White.
• The relentless faceoff between Adkins and White in One More Shot is a realistic and engaging clash for the ages.
• White elevates the material above its predecessor, proving he is a worthy match for Adkins' gritty performance.

After blasting its way toward viewers in January 2024, the gritty action thriller One More Shot was recently added to Netflix for a new audience to enjoy. Written and directed by James Nunn, the intensely immersive sequel to the 2021 movie One Shot continues to follow Jake Harris (Scott Adkins), an elite Navy SEAL, as he is tasked with escorting a ruthless terrorist to Washington, D.C. for interrogation. Bombarded from every direction as they hit the road, Jake must storm through an ultra-violent maelstrom of murder and mayhem.

Although One Shot drew mild to negative reviews from fans and critics for its stilted dialogue and drawn-out exposition, many felt the riveting action scene was strong enough to warrant watching. In addition to rectifying the poor dialogue, One More Shot is superior to its predecessor for one badass reason: Michael Jai White. The bona fide action star replaces Ryan Phillippe, reminding viewers why he is not only a premiere American action movie star but also that he and Adkins have tremendous onscreen chemistry. Here's how One More Shot hits its target better than its predecessor.

What Is One More Shot About?

Conceived as a direct sequel to the 2021 British action thriller One Shot, One More Shot begins in Poland 12 hours after the fall of an underground torture chamber for terrorists. Jake Harris, the surviving Navy SEAL from the first film, is given a sensitive mission to escort a dangerous terrorist named Amin Mansur (Waleed Elgadi) to Washington, D.C., and conduct an interrogation. Similar to the original movie saddled with wooden dialog and an over-explained plot, One More Shot is designed to appear as if the film is shot in a single take, a la Birdman or 1917.

As Harris transports Mansur, he is met with hyper-violent resistance at every turn. A heavily armed group of mercenaries have been hired to take Harris out and prevent him from delivering Mansur to Washington. Meanwhile, Harris also contends with a ticking clock scenario when the terrorists plant a dirty bomb somewhere in D.C. that is timed to detonate as the President gives a States of the Union Address. Harris shoots, stabs, and batters his way through a morass of militaristic baddies, finally meeting his match in the movie's climactic showdown.

Who Does Michael Jai White Play in One More Shot?

One More Shot hits the bullseye dead center when Harris faces Robert Jackson, played by the inimitable Michael Jai White. Jackson is a highly skilled and deadly mercenary hired to eliminate Harris before he delivers Mansur to Washington. Even before the violent showdown with Harris that marks the movie's high point, Jackson is undeniably unnerving thanks to White's performance. He leads the other mercenaries with a strict command, mounting sadistic fear as the character is destined to confront Harris.

Although White has minimal screen time, One More Shot flies past its predecessor during the ferocious showdown between Harris and Jackson. The two face off in the loading area of an airport tarmac, where a brutal one-on-one fistfight ensues. Adkins and White are incredibly adept at performing their own martial arts and physical stunts that, combined with unbroken editing techniques, result in a relentless and realistic clash for the ages. The visceral fight sequence lasts over two minutes and never cuts away from the breathless action. Perhaps best of all, it reminds viewers of the screen chemistry between Adkins and White that dates back decades.

Scott Adkins vs. Michael Jai White

One More Shot marks the fifth time Scott Adkins and Michael Jai White have shared the screen. The two underrated action stars first faced off in Undisputed 2: The Last Man Standing in 2006 and have kept a close personal and professional relationship ever since. White sat down with ScreenRant to promote One More Shot and spoke of his respect for Adkins and the pleasure of reuniting with him.

In addition to attending various martial arts shows and conventions together, Adkins and White fought each other in such movies as Metal Hurlant Chronicles (2012), Accident Man (2018), Triple Threat (2019), and now in One More Shot. With such invaluable experience choreographing and executing fight scenes in the past, it's no surprise to see White elevate the material above its predecessor.

Not to besmirch Ryan Phillippe's action movie bona fides, but one of the problems with the original One Shot is how it lacked a worthy match for Adkins' gritty physical performance. Phillippe has proven he can handle action material with projects like Shooter, but Adkins and White bring another level of authenticity that can't be denied. Phillippe is arguably the better overall actor, but for One More Shot, White is better suited to give Adkins all he can take.

Given their collaborative history, the anticipation of Adkins and White fighting again increases fan enthusiasm. Albeit brief, the results do not disappoint. As such, anyone considering loading up One More Shot should feel confident that the movie hits the mark better than the first. One More Shot may even fare well enough on Netflix to merit another sequel.