I’m just trying to wrap my brain around why the US chose to rename “Unleashed” from its original title “Danny the Dog”. Often times, studios have a point with renaming something but for taking a title like “Danny the Dog” which is completely true to what the plot entails to such a generic moniker as “Unleashed”, it’s just odd. Now, as with “Danny the Dog”, I have to admit I was surprised. Yet again. The only movies starring Jet Li I’ve ever found entertaining were “Kiss of the Dragon”, and “Hero”, but beyond that, he’s basically a humdrum action star. “Danny the Dog” is an action movie with a story. How about that? Danny is a vicious merciless beast who, when literally unleashed by his master, goes on a rampage that no one can stop. But when his master is taken down in a drive by shooting, Danny stumbles on a blind piano player.

The way the story goes about itself is rather flawless. Normally in an action film, the story would be incredibly forced on us, but Besson structures the plot elements so that it’s sprinkled sporadically, and then finally focuses on the story. Some people may be turned off by this, because it’s not completely an action film. For at least an hour of the film, we see Danny being introduced to humanity, and his progression to that is engrossing. Most of that is due to the excellent acting by the cast who take this story and elevate it with utterly engaging characters. Danny is not completely a gimmick thankfully, yet he is instead a man who has lost touch with humanity. He’s not a warrior, just a misguided brainwashed individual who never knew what it was to be human, or kind. Li actually tries his hand at acting, and for what entails in terms of silent emotions, Li isn’t half bad. As a matter of fact, he’s damn good.

The character and the way he’s explored really goes miles beyond normal action conventions as Danny is played as a child-like figure when he’s not in rabid mode. Though he feels content in his situation, and will basically fight a room full of men, he finds he’s frightened by two new people he comes across who offer him companionship and love. If you’ve been conditioned to be foreign to humanity, can you have it, and can you live among it? “Danny the Dog” dares to explore that plot concept without missing much of a hitch and the story plays out well. Danny’s struggle to learn how to be human is most compelling, with sequences that range from entertaining to purely heartbreaking. And that’s because of the engaging well written characters that take center stage. Though Li’s performance is very good, the truly great roles are by Kerry Condon and Morgan Freeman.

Condon is charming as a brace mouthed young girl who takes it upon herself to befriend Danny and teach him about the basics of life, while Morgan Freeman shows us once again why he can take any movie and make it worth watching as Sam, a blind piano player who crashes into Danny one day and introduces him to music. Danny seeks comfort in him, even though the feeling of kindness is completely unusual in his eyes. In a very good homage to “Frankenstein” the beast Danny comes across a kindly blind piano player who teaches him how to be human, again. Bob Hoskins is fun as Uncle Jack, a vicious mob boss who takes pleasure in breaking Danny out on his rivals. Featured are also some truly excellent fighting sequences paired with incredible choreography that make “Danny the Dog” a brutal amalgam of drama and action.

I really liked this movie. I really liked it. I'm just surprised "Danny the Dog" ended up being an action movie with texture, and a story, and characterization, and heart, and an actual point about humanity and the potential kindness we're capable of. Not to mention the action scenes kick major ass.

• Known as "Unleashed" in the states.

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