What is the story about?

Analysis

Movies where characters are stuck in a time loop seem to be all the rage during this lockdown, but Boss Level seems to be the first one this season that actually makes the scenario entertaining as an action thriller. The action sequences are enjoyable, but you could have honestly picked them out of any of the John Wick films. This film is full of assassins of various ethnicities that almost borders on caricaturish. There’s also a megalomaniac villain who spouts predatory wisdom before dispatching his enemies, and a device that plays around time—this last line suspiciously reminds you of the basic premise of Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish. At one point, a character also makes a reference to Roy’s abilities and compares him to Taken’s Liam Neeson. You don’t need to roll your eyes any further, because this movie packs in sequences and references that seem generic in the action thriller genre.

 

Here’s the best part about this film—it knows it has borrowed liberally from everywhere, and it chooses to have fun and even subvert the tropes. The first ten minutes of the film are a hoot, where Roy, through his weary body language, manages to convey the dread of living out another day, even as he repeatedly fights and get killed over and over again. Writer-director Joe Carnahan, along with co-writer Eddie Borey, revels in the goofiness of the entire premise that borders on campy. There’s a certain fun in watching the myriad ways in which Roy attempts to dodge his assassins, and gets dispatched himself. This approach has its limitations too, because sometimes you wish the story would progress faster, but this film provides a lot of cheap thrills if you can keep your patience intact.

Performances

Music & Other Departments

Highlights

Drawbacks

Did I enjoy it?

Do I recommend it?

• Previous
• Next

---

Share your thoughts

Report a problem

Submit