crank

THE FLICK: With quiet efficiency Jason Statham has fulfilled the ancient prophecy of the second-coming of Jean Claude VanDamme. I'm not sure if he would appreciate the compliment but it's true. So much so that I can barely remember the actor who delivered such a blistering dialogue-driven performance in Guy Ritchie's Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels before that. Since then, Statham has ascended to the top of the white-guy kickboxing throne with his Transporter double-feature (and you just know it'll be a trilogy soon) and a bit part in the remake of The Italian Job. Now comes Crank, another over-the-top, out-of-control exhibition for Statham's angry bald head and muscular flexibility. The only difference is, this time it's a whole lotta fun! Lifting elements of DOA and any number of Tarantino films, writer/director team Neveldine/Taylor turn in a bouncy, devil-may-care crime-comedy that's like a spitball in the eye of most tired studio action fare. It's not revolutionary, it's not classy, but it's damn entertaining! And Statham goes at it with unbridled enthusiasm, racing from scene to scene set against a throbbing punk music score, stubbornly attempting to stay alive long enough to get revenge after being injected with the "Beijing Cocktail," a drug that will eventually cause his painful death unless he can keep a constant stream of adrenaline rushing through his system. The high-concept idea is ripe for action exploitation as hitman Chev Chelios (Statham) tries anything and everything to keep his buzz on: sex, drugs, daredevil stunts and hand-to-hand combat. With Amy Smart as his bimbo girlfriend-cum-sidekick and Dwight Yoakam doling out back-alley medical advice, the film generates more wacky momentum than any film since Doug Liman’s Go. Of course, full enjoyment requires a sick sense of humor and a healthy suspension of disbelief (the public sex scene is the only beat in the film that hits a wrong note), but it’s hard to hit the credits without a huge smile on your face. THE FEATURES: Rather than your standard commentary track, watching the film in Crank’d Out Mode gives you the same high energy interactive experience as watching the film itself – interrupted by picture-in-picture comments from the filmmakers themselves as well as “making of” footage. The guys have a good sense of humor and self-deprecating style. It’s a nice change of pace from the standard press kit and worth watching the whole movie again. The inclusion of a “family friendly” track is introduced by the filmmakers a being created for TV use, but all the film’s violence is presented intact. If you get a kick out of comical replacements for curse words, then this is your thing. A music video from the artist David Rolas is the only other extra.