If you ever wondered what the TV series “Justified” would look like if Raylan Givens was a cutthroat trial attorney rather than a U.S. Marshall, then “Legal Action” is the film for you. This made-for-cable-TV movie with Eric Close as a stand-in for Timothy Olyphant plays like a pilot for a bizarre Justified/Matlock hybrid. Yet, thanks to some winning performances, it’s a mildly passable Prime Video entry.

Eric Close stars in “Legal Action” as a hotshot Nashville attorney (this movie was probably filmed while he was in the cast of “Nashville”) who has a trial winning streak that’s reached triple digits. As a favor to his ex-wife, Close agrees to take on the defense of her brother, who is accused of murdering the district attorney in their small Georgia hometown. The brother is actually an ex-con trying to go straight who ran afoul of the local crime boss (Tommy Flanagan) and is now under pressure from Flanagan’s goons to plead guilty. Close starts his own investigation and runs afoul of those same goons himself, leading to several confrontations both in and out of the courtroom.

Those expecting “Perry Mason”-styled theatrics in “Legal Action” will be sorely disappointed. Even Barney Fife could figure out who’s behind the killings in this case, but that’s not really the point. Before it got to Amazon Prime, “Legal Action” made its debut in 2018 on the INSP network, which features a lot of Westerns and action films. So, the courtroom takes a back seat to the gunroom here. Close’s character is the descendant of Texas Rangers and sports a Stetson hat to go along with his tailored three-piece suits. He also takes great pride in toting his gun collection around. Not to be outdone, villain Flanagan is also a firearms aficionado, and he and Close compare notes and weaponry to pass the time in one scene. It’s not too much of a spoiler to reveal that the two wind up slapping iron before the movie is over.

On those rare occasions when the writers remember that “Legal Action” is supposed to be about lawyers, the film becomes somewhat interesting. Viewers have a chance to see about two minutes of the trial during those rare moments Eric Close isn’t out doing some extremely juvenile-level sleuthing. The trial action is good, but the best scene in the entire film occurs in the first few minutes when the attorney convinces a department store’s lawyer not to pursue shoplifting charges against Close’s obviously guilty client.

Still, “Legal Action” is about as generic an action movie as you’ll find, without any of Elmore Leonard’s great one-liners that made “Justified” so memorable. Despite the extremely familiar plot of “Legal Action,” the core characters are entertaining, thanks to a couple of skilled supporting actors. Tommy Flanagan has a lot of fun as the flashy villain (the script even explains his Scottish brogue). However, Nick Searcy is even better as Close’s sort-of investigator, a hotel owner called “Ex” because he used to have all sorts of other occupations.

It’s no surprise that “Legal Action” wound up showing on a fourth-rate cable network and later as cheap Prime Video filler. Still, having seen many other similar low-budget titles, this movie is relatively well (albeit cheaply) made with some decent acting and production values (including some magnificent Georgia mountain scenery). I’m giving it a mild recommendation as an undemanding summer watch. In this case, “Legal Action” is better than no film action at all.

This was a rare clean movie. About what America used to be. Great cast, plot, action.

I watched this because of Nick Searcy & this flick is basically a Christian film company take on the "Justified" series. It's very good but NOT great. I'm sure Eric Close is a nice guy in real life but having him star in the movie is like having RuPaul portray Superman.
I'm not going to give any spoilers but if you're looking for action & violence, then this is NOT the movie for you.
There's some fist fights but everything else is "implied". All in all, it's worth a watch, as long as you don't expect too much.

I liked this affable comedy-drama about a murder in the courthouse of a small southern town, and the sophisticated city lawyer who arrives to defend his n'er-do'well ex brother-in-law, who's been accused of the crime. I recommend watching just to see the performances of two fine character actors. Nick Searcy plays the part of a local motel owner - whose nickname is Ex since he's an ex-policeman, ex-soldier, ex-private detective, and so on. He's hilarious. His polar opposite, the villain of the piece, is performed with appropriate nastiness by Tom Flanagan, who still gets a few humorous moments of his own. I remember Eric Close from way back in the day when he was a young detective on Without a Trace; he has built a solid career since then, and does a good job here as the savvy lawyer called on to defend a case that looks open and shut....or is it? Not the most demanding of movies, but sometimes you don't want demanding; you just want to kick back and enjoy a good story. I certainly did.

A really well done murder-mystery. Fun characters who for the most part, were believable. Very well acted, good script. Keeps you guessing. It helps if you are from Texas (although the movie takes - I think - in Tennessee), and helps even more if you have a relative who is/was a Texas Ranger. Lots of fun to watch. Highly recommended.

I REALLY liked this movie and I wish it was actually a series of several episodes and seasons, instead of just a movie. I enjoyed the acting even though there was some violence in it. I also like the movie for what it did not have ... no profanity, no cursing, no bad language, no nudity, nothing demonic or satanic. Violence is bad enough, but the movie was still worth watching.

Yep. After watching the trailer I figured it might be a good, it looked like it could run ... Tommy Flanagan is a great villain. He simply Oooozes with evil. Nick Searcy, (Straight out of Justified) is an excellent side kick picking up the load in every scene he does. Eric Close, the white hat lawyer has that American Hero look and feel to him. Good Job. Story line works. Excellent camera work too. The soundtrack is a cross between country and Hokey-wolf. But it too, works. Amazon has a TON of crappy flicks but not this one. Overall it is well worth watching. I'll probably watch it again.

This movie focused more on showcasing the southern cowboy like culture and I would say it has succeeded fairly well. Although the criminal plot itself is being weekly narrated and is lost in the story telling, what it lost in the crime resolving area, it makes it up in the cowboy genre. Loved the southern accent, (one of them has Scottish accent), the outback centered background score. Also loved the camera showing beautiful outback from aerial view. But the crime plot was childish, seems like the creative team did not care much to do justice on that at all.