Jolt

Movie Name: Jolt
Year of Release: 2021
Director: Tanya Wexler
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Bobby Cannavale, Jai Courtney, Laverne Cox, Stanley Tucci, Ori Pfeffer, David Bradley, Lewis Ian Bray, Nathan Cooper, Sophie Anderson, Tom Xander, Savvy Clement
Genre: Action, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5
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Synopsis and Review:

Director Tanya Wexler, who made a name for herself with the underrated "Hysteria", follows up the well received "Buffaloed" with this action/adventure romp with the always terrific and charismatic Kate Beckinsale. The film follows the story of Lindy, a woman who suffers from a condition by the name of intermittent explosive disorder, something that makes her react with extreme rage at the slightest transgression. Growing up Lindy was placed through a series of treatments and places in order to teach her to cope with her violent tendencies, all to no avail. Her therapist however found her way to keep it in check, by her using a vest which releases an electric shock discharge, whenever she presses a device (and whenever she feels a surge in rage coming up). Lindy is trying to be more outgoing, and decides to go on a date with a man, who turns out to be an accountant. After two nice dates, Lindy is ready for their third, when she's informed he's been murdered. As the police tries to find the culprit, Lindy sets out an investigation of her own, which places her in the trajectory of a well known and untouchable criminal by the name of Gareth Fizel. While Fizel believes he's untouchable, he is unaware, of just how resourceful and powerful Lindy is. 

David Leitch's and Charlize Theron's "Atomic Blonde" set a pretty high standard for how action films with a central female character can actually be. "Atomic Blonde" managed to be a perfectly crafted B-movie, with enough talent, muscular action scenes, and deft storytelling to surpass anything that Michael Bay has ever done for instance, with budgets that are much grander in scale. Tanya Wexler's best calling card for "Jolt" is the fantastic Kate Beckinsale, who oozes charisma and can effectively play anything, always with a sense of mischief and delight. While the film never truly manages to keep up with her energy, it's still filled with enough entertaining set pieces to keep it watchable. Most of the supporting characters are established in very broad strokes, but there's a sense of irony that permeates the action and exchanges between all the characters, that independently of the clichés that are put on display, keeps the narrative watchable and engaging. It's an unpretentious film that plays efficiently with the characters that it has, and while it's not as memorable as the aforementioned "Atomic Blonde", it is nonetheless watchable.