'Boss Level' A Review

Boss Level is a time-loop/action movie that follows Roy(Frank Grillo) an ex-Delta Force soldier who gets put in a time-loop by his scientist ex-wife Jemma(Naomi Watts) in order to save her, their son, and the world from the evil machinations of her boss Ventor(Mel Gibson).

Grillo, probably best none for his supporting part in the MCU, a solid working character actor, is given his first high profile lead and he makes the best of it. He doesn't have the shine of an outright movie star but his dogged charm, straight-forward voice over, and commanding and capable physical presence make for a surprising connection. And as sincere and perhaps rote as his emotional transformation may be(given that seems to be a pre-requisite for most time-loop movies) is effective. Gibson and Watts both in relatively small supporting roles but they bring much needed star-wattage to this action vehicle. The real(and much needed) playfulness comes in with the bizarre and quite fun broad supporting cast in the form of a rag-tag group of assassins sent to off Roy each day, Will Sasso as a Hulk Hogan inspired head of security for Ventor, Ken Jeong as the owner of a restaurant Roy visits, and a brief virtual cameo from Michelle Yeoh as a sword master who trains Roy. It's eclectic and terribly fun because everyone presents these flushed out eccentric characters and we see them in flashes depending on the various ways Roy goes through his day. If no one is doing any particularly sophisticated acting they are having, what seems, to be a lot of fun and that's contagious.

Kinetic cinematography, propulsive action, plausible if not totally seamless CGI, and a wry score all come together to make a solid production. If the script isn't air-tight it's serviceable, the time-loop premise is almost a given homerun and here they take full advantage for humor and for action. If the emotional part of the story is a bit on the noise perhaps a bit derivative, who cares, it's entertaining and it works. Especially now with award season in full blush and almost predominantly "heavy" dramas being released in the lead up to the Oscars and in a time when action movies are typically being held for when they can reep the most box office Boss Level is a welcome diverting treat.

Unpretentious fun for the action movie fan.

Currently streaming on Hulu.

See It.