Bullet Points: Jolt

Jolt goes right to the feels as a tragic tale of a young girl with some real issues, that is never really given the help she needs and instead is developed as a weapon. Sure you have heard this story before but for some reason the opening of Jolt narrated by Susan Surandon just hit hard. But back to the reason we’re all here ACTION!

• The Star: Jolt is an ultraviolent neon bad ass babe killing spree, and it certainly helps that Kate Beckinsale is so pleasing to look at for a few hours. She represents so many of us in society today, those moments you never act on when frustrated or upset but in your head you beat some ass. Well, Jolt can’t control it and does those things. We are all living vicariously through her. But she has developed, or been given a magic button, that “jolts” her back to stability.

• The Supporting Players: Starring along side Kate is an impressive cast including Jai Courtney (remember when Hollywood tried REALLY hard to make him a thing?) and Stanley Tucci who is the scientist/psychiatrist that developed the technology and is trying to help her manage her condition. After a blind date with Courtney’s character (maybe there is hope for me I’ll end up on a blind date with Kate Beckinsale who may kick my ass) he becomes the calming force in her life and ironically fixes all her problems with his penis. A joke the movie itself makes to try and defuse any criticism. 
• The Detectives: This new found joy quickly collapses around her and Lindy embarks on a road of violence and vengeance. Also in the movie are two detectives on her heels and they are a treat. P;ayed by Bobby Cannavale and Laverne Cox. Their dynamic both with each other and with Lindy is funny, witty and fresh in a genre that has seen this angle covered before. This causes the film to never sit still for too long between a manhunt and a revenge tour.  The pace plays perfectly with the premise and affliction of the main character.

• The Action: Fight scenes and action sequences come often and vary enough to not get repetitive. Car chase, torture, underground fight ring, the greatest hits but each with a slight twist on the conventional expectation. Beckinsale shines as her confident brash self always looking at home beating people up as if she has been doing it for years.

Streaming services like Amazon putting in more effort into their exclusive movies has created this weird middle ground between theatrical release big budget films and the straight to DVD or VOD releases this site has come to know and love. Big time actors, big time effects, and maybe a slightly weak script. What used to cost a ton of money and look bad bombing in theatres now presents something to throw on the banner of your fire stick and enjoy for free on Friday night. Jolt is the perfect fun movie for that lane, I don’t know if I would go pay $12 to sit in a theatre and watch it but it is a fun easy watch at home on my couch. And if blasting billionaires into space in penis shaped rockets means we get more films in this realm than beam ’em up Scotty!