Review of Crank: High Voltage (2009) by Tony B — 06 Jan 2012

Despite it being utterly insane a concept, I really enjoyed the first Crank - it was original, inventive and funny. Sadly this sequel takes what was a bonkers original formula and cranks (sorry) it up to levels of pure ridiculousness. Less a movie containing a narrative than a headrush of schizophrenic visuals, LOUD soundtrack and insane characterisation, High Voltage really does miss the mark on a great many levels - despite directors Neveldine & Taylor showing bursts of originality and promise in their stylised approach.

I struggled to figure out if Jason Statham was enjoying this, for a start - he's a genre all of his own almost and great at what he does, but this really mines the wit Statham is capable of and plunges him at times into slapstick and farce - and that really isn't him. I almost despaired for Amy Smart in this - her role is little more than turn up half naked and get fucked publically on a racetrack (yes, that happens). And the familiar faces that turn up around them are either hysterically annoying (Bai Ling) or embarrassing (did they REALLY think Keith Carradine playing a horny old Chinese man was a good idea?!). It's as much a comedy than a pumped up action thriller yet quite often the gags fail or just make you cringe - the racetrack fuck a poor attempt at recreating the genuinely funny shagging gag in the first one. It feels like the first - reheated yet far less satisfying, despite as I say the odd flourish of invention (be it the video game titles or the Godzilla fight spoof), buried under a mess of terrible plotting, contrived action beats and editing that while it fits the piece does not make for easy viewing at times.

High Voltage is the action movie for the hyper junkie - and a disappointment for the rest of us.