I know I've sworn off woman-lead action films at least once. But I keep coming back - if they are well done, they can be more fun than more traditional male-lead actioners. Here are some recent ones I've watched:
The gimmick in Avarice (2022) is that Gillian Alexy is an accomplished archer. Other than that, she's a mother whose teen daughter is cold and aloof, and her husband is more interested in business deals than in her. But her father was an Olympic archer and he has been training her - although she loses the big match at the start. So what happens when a bunch o masked thugs take her family hostage? Will she use her archery skills to save them? Kind of. Skewers a couple, misses a few more. The lead baddy is Alexandra Nell, a tough combat-hardened woman. Who Alexy kills with an arrow - but by stabbing her with it.
This was directed by Australian John V. Soto. I don't think I'll be looking for his other movies.
Cleaner (2025) stars Daisy Ridley as a window cleaner for a high-tech office building in London. She has an autistic brother (played by Matthew Tuck, who is autistic) who is always breaking out of care homes to try and tag along with her. Some eco-terrorist group takes over the building during a big energy company's shareholder meeting, leaving Daisy and Tuck as the only good guys left free. But Daisy is stuck outside the building, with her harness controlled by the terrorists above. And Tuck is armed only with a plastic Thor hammer.
The terrorists are holding the board hostage, and forcing them to confess their crimes. But a young member of the group, Taz Tyler, doesn't think leader Clive Owen is radical enough, so he kills him. Now it becomes a mass-murder/suicide.
This one is better, with Daisy Ridle doing a great job, and her brother adding a little human interest and some humor. It was directed by Martin Campbell, whose Protege is one of the movies that turned me off to women in action (although one of the better ones). Still, it was pretty predictable, and had plot holes galore - like Daisy trying to break a window to get inside, when there was a broken window right above her.
Finally, G20 (2025). Here we have Viola Davis as the president of the United States - yeah! - attending a meeting of the leaders of the G20, twenty wealthy nations. It's taking place in an fortress-like hotel, so when the terrorists take these leaders hostage, there's no easy way out or in. Davis shows up with her husband, Anthony Anderson and her teen daughter, who got into trouble at school for hacking (minor plot point). When the private security team handling the event turns out to be the bad guys, Davis has to use her skills as a war hero to get everyone released.
See the pattern? Hostages, building take-overs, troublesome teens and special skills. Probably coincidence.
One of the nice things about G20 is the treatment of the First Gentleman. He takes the job of getting himslef and his daughter out of harm's way, so Davis can concentrate on kicking butt. Which she does magnificently. The biggest advantage this movie has is that she looks awesome. She wears a red gown, but refuses to wear heels, so she is fighting in couture with red sneakers. She looks badass. I hope this isn't insensitive to either, but she reminds me of Serena Williams - her powerful build and indomitable spirit. This plays into another one of the movie's strengths - it knows it's a stupid action film, and isn't trying to be much more. There isn't much if any winking or mugging, but it doesn't try to take itself seriously.
But I'm not sure if the other movies do, either. Avarice spends more time on the melodrama and family dynamics, and less on action, which is a big mistake. Cleaner gets to the action faster, but still tries to make a little too much of the brother/sister relationship. G20 gets it just right - but is still just OK.
In conclusion, Clark Gregg is vice president in G20, because of course he is. Spoiler - he is not a villain.
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