Film Review: Jolt

STUDIO: Amazon Studios/Millennium Media | DIRECTOR: Tanya Wexler | CAST: Kate Beckinsale, Bobby Cannavale, Jai Courtney, Laverne Cox, David Bradley,
Ori Pfeffer, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci
STREAMING RELEASE DATE: July 23, 2021
SPECS: R | 91 min. | Action comedy

RATINGS (out of 5 dishes): Movie 

Kate Beckinsale comes up from the Underworld with a Jolt, the action-comedy that starts with a spark and ends with a fizzle.

Kate Beckinsale has rage-control issues–and vengeance on her mind–in Jolt.

All her life, Lindy (Beckinsale) has suffered from Intermittent Explosive Disorder (yep, it’s a real thing!), a condition that triggers sporadic rage-filled, murderous impulses. In Lindy’s case, it’s made even worse at the hands of her uncaring parents, various inept medical institutions and a disastrous stint in the army. Her bizarre afflition has left her alone and unable to find connection in a world that doesn’t understand her. Hope finally comes in the form of a wearable device developed by her therapist Dr. Munchin (Stanley Tucci, Supernova) that delivers self-administered jolts of electricity  when her impulses begin to get out of control. When Munchin pushes Lindy to go on a blind date with the charming and accepting Justin (Jai Courtney, Honest Thief) she finally trusts a man long enough to fall in love. But just as their romance burgeons, Justin is murdered, prompting a heartbroken and enraged Lindy to embark on a vengeance-fueled mission to find his killer.

Working from an intriguing premise by first time screenwriter Scott Wascha, director Tanya Wexler (who most recently helmed the enjoyable Buffaloed) keeps up a fun, frantic pace, successfully delivering kickass fight sequences along with comically sardonic scenes — my favorite being a round of baby football. Wascha’s script smartly takes the time to make Lindy a well-rounded character with emotions and sensitivities that go beyond just murderous rage. Beckinsale, who has the tough woman part down, infuses Lindy with a nice range of sarcastic defiance and pathos. Able supporting players Bobby Cannavale (Motherless Brooklyn) and Laverne Cox (Promising Young Woman) are a hoot as the police officers assigned to the investigation, which involves figuring out if Lindy is their killer.

Unfortunately, the final act begins to falter, delivering a twist that jolts Lindy in a cruel way and ultimately comes off as silly and somewhat convoluted. A quick cameo by Susan Sarandon (Blackbird) as a mysterious government agent sets Jolt up for a possible sequel, but I’d much rather see a spin-off with the team of Cannavale & Cox as a pair of bickering, crime-solving detectives.

Watch Jolt

 

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Janine is a dedicated fan of the 1940 film Kitty Foyle, directed by Sam Wood, written by Dalton Trumbo and starring Ginger Rogers, who won an Oscar for her portrayal. And seeing that film is all it took to make her a lifelong movie lover. Janine is excited to add her insights to the great team at DishDisc.com.