Boss Level

Continuing on with the March 5th DUMP of new movies, I wanted to check out Boss Level, now streaming on Hulu (though I suspect it would have gone to theaters otherwise). 

Boss Level may not be as linked to videogames as the title suggests - in fact, it's not at all - but it's still something that felt right up my alley. Somehow, Frank Grillo's Roy is stuck in an endless loop, constantly dying, and he must unravel the mystery to figure out why and free himself. 

For starters, I low-key like Grillo. He's often a supporting role, but he's one of those who always adds something to the role he's playing. Whether it's in the Marvel universe, The Grey, or the Purge franchise, he's able to bring his machismo and charm to any character. Secondly, this just felt like one of those hyper-violent, fun, and darkly comedic films that can be a blast. Think Deadpool minus the superhero gig. 

With Boss Level, the summarization is pretty easy: what you see is what you get. This is exactly the film that I thought it would be, for better or worse, and while that means there aren't too many surprises hidden throughout, it does mean that it'll scratch that itch of a solid, violent, gory actioner with a neat sci-fi twist attached to it.

Right off the bat, with Roy's narration providing consistent details, you get the sense this is a very self-aware and snarky movie. Roy is ambushed by a machete as he wakes up, followed by a helicopter, Rob Gronkowski wielding a Gatling gun, and then steals a Dodge Hellcat Challenger, tearing through the downtown streets. The film starts off really strong and keeps this momentum for quite some time. As Roy explains his predicament we get plenty of backstory (before he got stuck in this loop) as well as numerous iterations of the other attempts he's had. These other iterations sometimes relate to the plot, but are mostly fun gags about all the ways Grillo gets to die from the assassin's hunting him. I think he gets decapitated no fewer than 10 times? Like I said, hyperviolent and pretty R-rated. 

You're doing too much, Frank!

"I am Roy and Roy has done this."

By the end, I was still with the movie - and it's certainly not too long at only 100 minutes - but my affection for it had changed. I still really enjoyed this movie, but it kind of loses steam at a certain point in the final 20 minutes that is hard to put a finger on. In particular, the science-fiction element of it is quite lazy, unexplained, and just acts as a plot device for him reliving the same day. I'm not sure I could necessarily tell you why it was doing this or why it was invented in the first place, out of broad strokes. I didn't need all the technical details, but I think because this part is phoned in near the end, it left somewhat of a sour taste in my mouth. Either that or I totally missed an explanation somewhere. It's also likely the product of films that have a time-loop of some sort; at a certain point the gig grows stale to varying degrees. 

That key complaint aside, Boss Level is a perfectly enjoyable actioner and Frank Grillo proves he can lead a film like this. The action is impressive and hits hard, featuring some explosive stunts and a handful of choreography moments that look good. It's not going to be your next favorite action film, but the variety is its main strength, providing vehicular action, guns, swords, stealth, and more. Grillo is certainly up to the task as he looks more fit than he ever has, with plenty of shirtless scenes to prove it. His Roy is a character you'll enjoy. Equal parts charisma, humor, and badass. The character has a satisfying arc of trying to solve the unraveling mystery around him, while eventually experiencing some growth in the form of how he uses his time during the recycled days (no spoilers). The rest of the cast is fairly useless, which is a shame because the host of assassin's feels cheated out of some fun/creative intros and Mel Gibson's Colonel Ventor never feels like the main/key villain.

While I can't quite explain why/how Boss Level...ahem...leveled off for me, it's still a very enjoyable action and sci-fi blend. It won't stick with you for many months afterwards, but in the moment, the very R-rated violence, witty voiceover, and strong lead from Grillo (not to mention a short and sweet runtime) make it easy to recommend. 

CONS

• Something happens in the final 20 minutes where I began to lose interest. I tie it back to the poor science fiction explanation and "why" of it all, but I can't quite put a finger on it
• A side cast of mostly ignorable characters. The assassin group deserved better and Gibson's villain feels weirdly not the main concern
• Shoddy CGI throughout
• Time-loop element creates some repetitiveness 

PROS

• Starts very strong and keeps its momentum throughout, mostly
• Hyperviolent and gory, often in darkly humorous ways. A well-earned R-rating
• Grillo is an awesome lead, kicking ass and exuding swagger throughout. His character goes on a worthwhile journey too
• Short and sweet at 100 minutes
• Solid action with a lot of variety
• Clever premise that offers high entertainment value in a tight package

Rath's Review Score | 7/10