It may be set within the very real and present Russian and Ukrainian conflict. But the new feature “Man of War” still embraces many of the familiar movie tropes that have fueled military action films for decades. If that’s your cup of tea, director William Kaufman doesn’t disappoint. His latest puts a magnifying glass on both the horror of the war and the resolve of the Ukrainian people. At the same time, this is every bit a full-throttled, bullet-riddled action movie. And once it finds its rhythm, it rarely ever slows down.

In February, 2022, former Special Forces soldier Michael Connor (LaMonica Garrett) sits in his Barcelona apartment attempting to drown his personal demons with booze. But he’s interrupted by a video call from his terrified adopted niece Riley (Rosmary Yaneva), who is doing humanitarian work in war-torn Ukraine. He proceeds to watch as she is abducted by a group of Russian mercenaries led by the almost cartoonishly sadistic Koniev (Daniel Bernhardt) who promptly ends the video call.

Determined to rescue his niece, the workmanlike Connor contacts his old friend and handler Charlie (Jason Patric) who uses his CIA connections to trace Riley’s location via her smart watch. Charlie then gets Connor aboard a transport plane with a private mercenary team who have their own mission in the Ukraine. After landing in Kyiv, Connor is picked up by Dany (Andrew Howard), one of Charlie’s local assets who agrees to guide him to Riley in exchange for his family’s safe passage out of the city.

The story (co-written by Kaufman and Paul Reichelt) ramps up pretty quick, but it does take time to somewhat build out a dynamic between Connor and Dany. Connor’s singular mindset turns him cold towards the wartime horror they encounter. His focus is solely on finding Riley and getting her to safety. Conversely, the plight of the Ukrainian people is often told through the lens of Dany who isn’t as willing to look past the suffering of his people. While the two initially butt heads, Dany inevitably becomes the conscience Connor needs.

But it’s the action that quickly takes center stage as the duo shoot their way out of Kyiv, through enemy occupied forests, to the outskirts of Kharkiv, and eventually into the besieged city which the Russians have flooded with special forces, assassins, and saboteurs. Kaufman and tactical advisor Max Kraus unleash an almost steady wave of gritty, pulse-pounding military firefights. The final twenty minutes are especially intense as ferocious gun battles are waged through tight-quartered office spaces and into the ravaged city streets.

Despite its modest budget, “Man of War” succeeds in generating a truly visceral combat experience. Yet there are some noticeable visual inconsistencies. The film’s color palette is often at odds with itself, specifically in the movie’s first half. That’s also when the editing is its shakiest, incorporating a few too many quick cuts that can be borderline disorienting. At the same time, Kaufman and his DP Mark Rutledge show impressive skill throughout the film’s action-charged second half, using the camera in a number of clever ways to make us feel as if we are a part of the combat.

As for the performances, Garrett has all the grit and intensity needed for us to buy into his character. He doesn’t get to do much outside of killing baddies, but he does that extremely well. Howard makes a good foil. He’s tough and rugged but also brings a needed sensitivity. As for Bernhardt, he certainly looks the part. But he vanishes for too much of the movie to be a truly worthwhile lead villain. Then there is Patric who only gets a small supporting role but who is a nice addition nonetheless.

“Man of War” could have dug a little deeper into its protagonist. It certainly could have added more weight and nuance to its villain. And while it remains mindful of the real-life war being waged in the Ukraine, it’s a little on-the-nose when depicting its impact on the Ukrainian people. Still, the movie excels in what it does best – action. Whether it’s the blistering rhythm or the tactical precision, the action sequences are thrilling and often make us feel as if we’re observing the real thing. And we get plenty of them which should satisfy any action junkie looking for a fix.