Dog’s Movie House: “Gunpowder Milkshake” And “Jolt” Give The Ladies A Chance To Kick Ass!

Let’s start with “Gunpowder Milkshake” in which Karen Gillan stars as Sam, an assassin whose mother, also an assassin, disappeared when she was just a child. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Sam is as good as they come but she makes a couple of mistakes, one of them involving a young girl’s father. By saving the girl (a very good Chloe Coleman) she puts herself on the outs with her employer known as the Firm. Run by Nathan (Paul Giamatti), the company wants her excised, so Nathan rats her out to the crime lord who’s son she killed. Now, with the girl in tow, Sam has to find away to avoid both the Irish gang and the Firm from killing both her and the child. Her only allies are a trio of ladies working at a special library where assassins can get whatever they need. Oh, and Sam’s mother shows up to complicate things.

This movie really wants to be a female “John Wick” but lacks the world-building skills or the choreography to reach those lofty heights. That’s not to say the film isn’t enjoyable. Writer/director Navat Papushado clearly loves the source material and saturates everything in this atmospheric neon that gives the film a fairly unique feel which is important since the story is one we’ve seen a million times before. “Assassin goes on the run after employers betray her” is one of the oldest tropes in the action genre. The Wick-inpired safe spaces for assassins are kind of cool but also old hat by now.

So what makes this movie fun? The action scenes are fun (especially a scene in the hosptial where Sam, paralyzed from her arms down, has to tape a gun and a knife to her hands and move like a whirling dervish to take out her attackers). They don’t get to the John Wick level of inventiveness, but that’s a high bar to clear. The main attraction is the cast. Gillan is fun as the assassin with a good heart and a lot of family baggage. She’s also physical enough to carry off the assassin role. Her support is equally good, with Lean Headey in fine form as her mother, Scarlett. The three librarians are played by Michelle Yoeh, Angela Bassett, and the lovely Carla Gugino, and a more polished trio of ass-kickers you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere. All of them are able to flesh out characters that would be mere cliches in the hands of lesser actors. Giamatti is also good as the appropriately slimy Nathan, able to turn off his emotions at a moment’s notice.

The decent action and characters are able to elevate “Gunpowder Milkshake” into an enjoyable, if somewhat derivative action film. Stream it on Netflix and get ready for some kick-ass women. 3 1/2 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer!

Next we have “Jolt” from director Tamara Wexler. This film stars Kate Beckinsale as Lindy, a woman with an explosive neurological condition that causes her to get very, very angry. Violence often ensues. As an adult, she is undergoing experimental therapy from Dr. Munchin (Stanley Tucci) in the form of a vest that allows her to administer electric shocks whenever she feels herself spiraling out of control. Things seem to be on the upswing when she meets an understanding man named Justin (Jai Courtney) and hope for a normal life is kindled. But when Justin is murdered, Lindy goes on the warpath, looking to avenge Justin’s murder in the best way she knows how. Not even two dedicated cops (Bobby Cannavale and Laverne Cox) are going to stand in her way.

Like “Gunpowder Milkshake” this film is fun although flawed and is equally buoyed by the fine and fun performance of Kate Beckinsale. Known for her cold approach to ass-kicking in the “Underworld” movies, she really gets to cut loose here and creates an engaging character who’s easy to root for despite her violent tendancies. The action scenes are simply adequate, but Beckinsale is so good that you find yourself invested in them anyway. Tucci is solid as always as her therapist, and Cannavale and Cox are really good as the two cops who each have different methods of trying to deal with Lindy. Courtney is fairly charming as Justin and the courtesy and understanding he shows Lindy in convincing enough to make the audience believe that her quest for vengeance is justified.

There are a few problems. Scott Wascha’s script is short on police procedure (a high speed chase involving Lindy in a Lamborghini with just one police car. . .really?) and also plays it fast and loose at times with Lindy’s condition. Her anger isn’t consistent during the second half of the film and becomes more of a plot device than an actual part of her character. Beckinsale is able to cover it up for the most part but it can be maddening at times. Also, the twist ending lacks the type of kick needed to jump the film into a higher gear. If anything, it just makes you feel bad for Lindy.

That said, “Jolt” is another entertaining action film with a spectacular female lead. Beckinsale is an underrated actress and it’s fun to get to see her strut her stuff here. Check it out on Amazon Prime! 3 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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