Early reviews pan 'vacant' Point Break remake

It was the remake no one asked for, one that fans didn't want and after early reviews of Point Break, it seems the movie hasn't won over any critics either.

The original Point Break was released in 1991 and became a cult classic thanks to stand out performances by Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze.

The remake, due in January, stars Australian actor Luke Bracey as Johnny Utah (Reeves' character), a young FBI agent and Edgar Ramirez as Bodhi (Swayze's character), a criminal mastermind with a serious love for extreme sports.

Edgar Ramirez stars in the Point Break remake.

The idea for a remake has been panned from fans of the original since it was announce, and early reviews of the film aren't promising.

The Hollywood Reporter said "(Director) Ericson Core's Point Break strips the silly fun and relatively straight-ahead narrative from the original for a humourless, if photogenic spin on extreme crime."

Variety said: "The sense of living dangerously is somewhat lacking as Kurt Wimmer's emotionally vacant screenplay fails to make audiences care enough about the characters to sweat over their physical exertions."

Screen International describes the film as "number of impressive action set pieces ... However, fans of the original will mourn the lack of memorable characters, quotable dialogue and the now-legendary central bromance."

In May this year when the first Point Break trailer was released fans shared their outrage on Twitter.

Actress Lori Petty who played Keanu Reeves' girlfriend Tyler in the original film, told The Hollywood Reporter: "I think it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Really? Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Kathryn Bigelow - what are you gonna do? What are you thinking? Stupid!"

A scene from the Point Break movie remake.

Point Break is out in New Zealand cinemas on January 1.

- nzherald.co.nz