A watchable but altogether forgettable uber-violent Groundhog Day action comedy. This flick dabbles in and plays up a video game aesthetic and archetype, but its disassociation with that plot dynamic felt oddly lacking. The playing out of the same day assassination scenario felt novel the first few minutes, but gets monotonous for the viewer as it does the protagonist.
Frank Grillo isn’t going to be kicking over any acting statues anytime soon, but he is serviceable, fairly likable, and plausible as a killer badass. What might kick open other doors though is his body which is killing it. Who knew the gruff Grillo could grind stone on his shredded abs?
The actors floating around in this are an odd assortment, from a bewildering short and sipid Naomi Watts, the “one day on set” Michelle Yeoh cameo, a straight fest henchman role for Will Sasso, and an oddly unimportant and underused “final boss” in Mel Gibson. A bit of a hodge podge.
The emotions here don’t really land and the plot seems to function just to get us to the next pricey action set-piece, but it works for what it is trying to do and be. I still feel a deep disconnect from the video game facsimile it purports but doesn’t capitalize upon, but to zone out and enjoy some mindless over-the-top, only done for the fun of it action, this one might be your very own LEVEL UP.
