Valentine’s Day is finally over! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to ditch the romance and watch some dudes beat each other up.
Prime Video has plenty of action films, and Watch With Us is recommending two underrated gems for you to watch this weekend: Gamer with a grizzled Gerard Butler and The Grey with an even grizzlier Liam Neeson.
To even things out, I included a romantic drama, The Vow, which is an excellent showcase for lead stars Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum’s enduring charisma.
‘Gamer’ (2009)
In the near future, video game technology has evolved so players can actually control the minds of real-life people. Unscrupulous computer developer Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall) has made a lot of money with his game Slayers, which allows players to “play” as real-life death row inmates. The most popular prisoner is John “Kable” Tillman (Gerard Butler), who remains undefeated in 27 matches. But his reign is about to come to an end as Castle has rigged the game to allow a new opponent, Hackman (Terry Crews), to kill him. Can Kable escape the game in time to save his life?
Gamer is a surprisingly complicated sci-fi action movie that’s a step above your standard Gerard Butler action fare. It exploits its intriguing premise well, with a subplot involving an activist group called the Humanz, who advocate for free will and the dangers of technology. That makes Gamer more relevant than ever in 2026, which is ripe with fear and loathing of AI. But make no mistake — Gamer is largely a massively entertaining slugfest that invites you to revel in the brutal one-on-one fights it supposedly condemns.
Gamer is streaming on Prime Video.
‘The Grey’ (2011)
Since his beloved wife passed away, Alaskan sharpshooter John Ottoway (Liam Neeson) doesn’t think he has much to live for. When a plane carrying him and his fellow oil workers crashes in the middle of the wilderness, he has to set aside his suicidal depression to focus on trying to stay alive. That proves to be difficult since the survivors are stuck in an area known for its roving packs of vicious grey wolves. With dwindling supplies and no hope of rescue, can John find a way back to civilization? And even if he could, does he want to?
On one level, The Grey is your standard Liam Neeson action vehicle, complete with a loner hero with a tragic backstory and a supporting cast full of actors wielding impressive amounts of facial hair and testosterone. But what makes The Grey stand out from, say, Taken 2, is its dedication to its bleakness. Stuck in a seemingly hopeless situation, John and his men don’t believe they’ll make it out alive. The film’s climax is surprisingly realistic, with a denouement that leaves it up to you to determine John’s fate.
The Grey is streaming on Prime Video.
‘The Vow’ (2012)
Good actors can make even the most banal movies work, and that’s what Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum do in The Vow. Loosely based on the true story of a real-life couple, The Vow stars Adams as Paige, a married woman who was recently in a car crash that wiped out most of her recent memories. She doesn’t remember her husband, Leo (Tatum), why she left her former fiancé for him or why her parents seem to have no connection to Leo at all. Leo still loves her, but is that enough for Paige to be in a relationship with someone who is now a stranger?
Make no mistake, The Vow is pure melodrama, with a plot that defies logic, science and reason. Made today, it would fit nicely into the Hallmark movie library and feature at least one actor from Party of Five, but in 2012, this movie was a hit. It’s not hard to understand why — McAdams elevates the material and makes you believe love can overcome anything, including conveniently plotted amnesia. Tatum is also good in a role that essentially makes him a glorified cuckold. The Vow puts the “guilt” in “guilty pleasure,” but it also pleases just enough for you not to feel too bad about watching it.