Boss Level (2020)

Film review #639

Director: Joe Carnahan

SYNOPSIS: Retired special forces operative Roy Pulver is being forced to live the same day over and over, being chased and killed by a group of assassins that want him dead for some reason. He tries to work out the reason why all of this is happening and how to stop it, eventually learning it may have something to do with his ex…

THOUGHTS/ANALYSIS: Boss Level is a 2020 sci-fi film. Retired special forces operative Roy Pulver is living the same day over and over, until he is killed by one of the many assassins that want him dead. The Groundhog Day setup provides a familiar backdrop to this constant tour de force of action and violence. The plot itself barely tries to make sense; it’s just the backdrop to a wild ride as Roy tries to constantly make it further in the day than he has lived before, and untangle the mystery of why this is happening to him. The film is at its best when it can just let loose with some cartoony, over-the-top action sequences, keeping it fresh with every attempt Roy learning or trying something new. The film stutters a bit when it throws in all the drama with his ex, son and just the end of the damn world, and never really finds a proper place for them, but they’re overshadowed by the sheer entertainment of the action parts. There’s a theme running through the film – as the title suggests – of a video game motif of redoing levels and/or bosses each time you die in game, but this doesn’t really factor into the film bar a bit of aesthetic flair and a bit of bonding with Roy’s Son. It’s a an underdeveloped concept that perhaps feels like it got written out or downplayed during re-writes to make the film a bit smoother. This could have made the film a bit more unique and provided a more lasting impression, but as it stands, it’s not to memorable, but again, it’s still a fun ride while it lasts.

Bolstered by a surprisingly recognisable and established cast including Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson, and Naomi Watts, everyone turns in decent performances, although they could all have done with more development. I suppose this is hard though, when they are all unknowingly living the same day over and over, so can’t really evolve over the course of the film. The assassins sent after Roy are a cartoon-ish cast of villains that are fun to watch and provide their own flair. It’s definitely fun to watch Roy learn to overcome the obstacles in front of him and unravel the conspiracy in front of him, and the film is brought to life with some cool stunts, although the special effects are sometimes a bit off. Where the film takes a sharp dive: it’s one of those films that just…ends abruptly. I get that the film takes place in one loop, and leaving the future outside it ready to be written, but the way it is done here leaves very little ending or resolution: we just get a bit of explanation, and then it just stops. I don’t want to focus on the negatives too much, because they are vastly overshadowed by how fun the film is, and the ride it takes you on is more than enough to make it a good watch. More could have been done with it for sure, but what we get is surprisingly fresh, undoubtedly exciting, and plenty of fun.