Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, this “high-octane” action film with Jason Statham proved so popular it was then followed by a 2009 sequel.
Jason Statham hams it up in the gloriously silly and entertaining Crank(Image: Lionsgate Films)
An “adrenaline-fueled” action film has been praised as one of Jason Statham‘s best, and it’s now available on ITVX.
Crank, released in 2006, stars Jason Statham as Chev Chelios, a Los Angeles hitman poisoned with a synthetic drug that kills him if his heart rate drops. To survive, he must keep his adrenaline flowing through constant, violent and chaotic actions while tracking down his enemies.
It is a fast-paced film described to be like a “video game” in style, which sees action star Statham at his best as he performs all of his own fight and car stunts.
The film stars Statham in one of his typical roles as an action star, alongside Amy Smart as Eve Lydon, Jose Pablo Cantillo as Ricky Verona, Carlos Sanz as Carlito, and Dwight Yoakam as Doc Miles.
The film was considered a huge success and performed well at the box office, as it grossed $42.9 million (around £31.6 million) worldwide against a $12 million (about £.8.8 million) budget.
Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the film proved so popular it was then followed by a 2009 sequel, Crank: High Voltage.
On film and TV ratings website Rotten Tomatoes, it scored a moderate 62% but fans have still said it’s worth a watch. One review wrote: “Crank is a relentless, high-octane action film that thrives on its breakneck pacing, jump cuts, and kinetic cinematography – all of which are seamlessly integrated into the storytelling. As a genre piece designed to deliver a near-constant dopamine rush, it excels, offering a uniquely immersive and adrenaline-fueled experience.”
A second posted: “Extremely fast-paced and action-packed psychedelic movie that really feels like a (very effective) parody of the state of modern entertainment.”
A third said: “This is a good film. Jason Statham is great and the rest of the cast is good too. The action is wild. Worth a watch if you’re a fan of Statham.”
A fourth added: “This movie is ridiculous but that is what made it a good, fun movie. It’s high-octane and over-the-top scenes made the movie such a joy to watch.”
A fifth said: “Relentlessly paced and full of ‘whoa’ moments – Crank might just be the peak Statham movie. An outlandish one vs 100 action flick that was popularised in the 80s works better here with the wink and nod to the audience that the movie is in on the gag as well.”
Another wrote: “It’s ridiculous, but highly entertaining and funny.” Another shared: “This is pure 00s action. I loved it but it took me a hot minute to appreciate the style. I can see why people wouldn’t enjoy this film but if you want an action film that doesn’t take itself seriously and has some laugh-out-loud moments, Cranks delivers.”
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Crank is available on ITVX now.