“Crank” (Lionsgate)
A Comic Book Adventure Come To Life
Jason Statham stars in the adrenaline packed film “Crank.” This movie is a comic book come to life. It makes no sense and uses tissue thin characters to tell its story of a gun for hire and his flight to fight death. The enjoyment is all in the action and even this wears thin as the movie progresses to its final scenes. Statham is a true action hero of the antihero type, and he will give the film whatever box office clout it creates.
Chev Chelios (Statham) is a hit man who wakes one day to find he has been injected with a type of poison that should kill him within an hour. The only way to extend his life is to keep his adrenaline pumping. This he does by driving fast and recklessly, snorting heroin, and pursuing the man who injected him. Oh yes, and he also finds time to have a passionate interlude with his girlfriend Eve (Amy Smart).
He knows the adrenaline rush will keep him alive thanks to his good friend and doctor, Doc Miles (Dwight Yoakum). The doctor is out of town but keeps up a running conversation with Chev by cellphone.
Along the way to finding the man who injected him, Chev meets up with his henchmen and manages to subdue them and lop off various body parts. This makes for some bloody scenes but also keeps Chev’s adrenaline pumping.
The brutality and blood flow is so unceasing it becomes tiresome. There is little chance to get to know the character of Chev because he is constantly in a state of motion and a state of violence. For much of the movie he is running around the streets of LA in a hospital gown. No one seems to think this too strange, and the police are nowhere to be found.
Statham does have a presence in his movies and adds humor and sarcasm to his character’s repertoire of actions. Ever since he burst on the scene in “The Transporter” people have come to expect the ultimate action packed movie from him. He delivers the action here but the plot and characterizations are left out in the cold.
The movie is rated R for profanity, violence and brief nudity.
“Crank” is a movie about a man who must crank up his adrenaline in order to stay alive. This he does but too much of anything is not necessarily a good thing. The film is finally done in by its lack of logic and intelligence. It’s fun for a while but not enough for an entire movie.
I scored “Crank” a heart beating 4 out of 10.
