Crank 2 - So over the top.  So great.

When I asked one of my friends if they enjoyed ‘Crank 2: High Voltage’ as much as the original ‘Crank’ film, she replied, ‘No, it was too over the top.’ I’m not saying that it’s not completely over the top and, yes, even more over the top than the original (which was pretty over the top in itself).  However, it is a sequel.  Sequels by their very natures normally have to provide ‘more of the same and more’ to try and outdo their predecessor.  In my opinion, Crank 2 does this to perfection.

There are some films where you really need to watch them in order to get what’s going on.  In this case you can probably jump right in with part 2 if you feel the need.  Basically, Jason Statham plays a (near invincible!) hitman, running around L.A. trying to save his own life.  The first time round he was poisoned, this time round he fell out of a helicopter and had his heart removed.  No, seriously – I did mention that it was over the top, didn’t I?

So, if you can believe that anyone could survive such an ordeal and still find it in him to wipe out half the criminal community of an entire city in a single afternoon, then you’re well on your way to enjoying Crank 2.  It sort of plays out like a computer game, with our enraged hero running from one dangerous location to the next, killing everyone he meets there, before moving on to an even more dangerous scenario.

Plus, Jason Statham is totally on form.  I reckon this is his best performance (outside the first two Transporter films) and he’s clearly enjoying himself.  That’s basically all you can hope for with this film – it’s pure enjoyment through and through.  It never tries to be realistic and it certainly knows that’s it tongue in cheek and over the top.

Yes, it’s violent, but then in some ways the violence is more in line with a Tom and Jerry cartoon (only with slightly more blood and don’t get me started on the scene where gang members start having a shoot-out in a strip club!).  I think you have to know what you’re getting here – just lower your IQ for an hour and a half and site back and enjoy the daft mayhem and try to second guess how daft the film will get.

Now where’s Crank 3 when I need it?

9/10 almost as perfect as The Godfather