Crank

• Written and Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Directorial Debuts)
• September 1, 2006

A hitman is poisoned and must keep his adrenaline flowing constantly in order to counteract the toxin and keep himself alive.

Crank is a silly and mindless action film that leans a bit into the comedic zone. Jason Statham plays hitman Chev Chelios who after being poisoned with a Chinese synthetic drug engages in a series of over-the-top action sequences as he tries to keep his adrenaline pumping which helps stave off organ failure just long enough for him to get revenge on the person who poisoned him.

The plot is just an excuse for cheesy jokes and ridiculous action scenes and few today do it better than Statham. He comes at his opponents like a force of nature but is also willing to imbue the scenes with for lack of a better word ‘fun.’

Crank moves from one balls to the wall action sequence after another. It’s frenetic and fast paced and doesn’t give you too much time to breathe which is kind of the point. The story is thin but you’re here for what Chelios is going to do next and not a complex narrative. The script is far from Oscar worthy and the dialogue can be clunky. The characters we encounter are a bit more caricature than anything.

This film comes off at times a bit of an homage to 80s action films. There is the superhuman action and the unnecessarily cool name. Nothing can stop this guy as he just powers through everybody that comes out after him. He is able to take on all that come at him. And there is plenty cheesy wit.

This movie asks you to leave your brain at the door and not think too hard. There’s nothing deep here. There’s no great themes or complex plot. It’s revenge on a ticking clock. Neveldine and Taylor emphasized style over substance with no pretense that there is any substance to this. Too often movie makers create fluff and want to act as if there is something deeper. These two know better.

Crank is silly and over-the-top and exciting fun. If you’re an action aficionado this is a must see. But for the general moviegoer this is only an if you want.