While the age-old adage “less is more” is sound filmmaking advice, the opposite applies to Jason Statham’s relentless action movies. A case in point isCrank 2: High Voltage, a balls-to-the-wall action sequel that goes so far over the top that it dwarfs the absurdity of the original to leave a big, fat grin etched on the faces ofhardcore Statham fanatics. Critics were also impressed, givingCrank 2slightly better reviews than its predecessor.
Boasting a wild premise that forces Statham’s Chev Chelios into a ticking-clock health scenario,Crank 2’s high-voltage electricity derives from the extreme plot, flagrant fight scenes, hyper-violence, morbid humor, kinetic camerawork, Statham’s breathless stunt work, and more. With the film recently celebrating its 15th anniversary, it’s time to hook up the jumper cables and bringCrank 2: High Voltageback to life.
Crank: High Voltage
What Is ‘Crank’ All About?
Understanding whyCrank 2out-energizes its predecessor requires context. Written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor in their feature film debut,Crankstars Jason Statham as assassin Chev Chelios. Chev is a hardened British hitman based in Los Angeles, assigned to kill a Triad mafia leader.
While asleep one night, assailants break in and intoxicate Chev with a synthetic drug called “The Beijing Cocktail.“The drug stops the flow of adrenaline in the human body, forcing Chev to remain as physically active as possible to avoid his heart fatally stopping.
The title “Crank” is a slang reference to methamphetamine, an illicit stimulant with similar properties as The Beijing Cocktail.As Chev rushes across Los Angeles to find an antidote and keep his health intact, he must defeat several Triad henchmen while his heart nearly beats out of his chest.Statham does some of his craziest stuntsand driving in the film, which only escalates in the sequel.
The silly B-movie premise is balanced by Neveldine and Taylor’s relentless direction and wildly over-the-top action scenes, which are increased to breakneck pitch and pace in the superior sequel.
‘Crank: High Voltage’ Ups the Amperage
Bigger, better, and bolder like every movie sequel should be,Crank 2: High Voltagedoubled down on its extreme premise and elevated the intensity to another level. The action commences with Chev being dropped from a helicopter, where he is picked up on the L.A. streets and taken to a hospital.When he awakes, Chev watches mobster Johnny Vang order doctors to remove his heart and replace it with a much weaker, artificial one.
Rather than keeping his adrenaline flowing as in the first film,Chev must ensure his inferior battery-operated heart retains enough electricity to keep him alive. The battery back will run out in 60 minutes, presenting Chev and the audience with a harrowing ticking-clock scenario that plays in real-time and adds to the jarring immediacy and urgency. Perhaps the most extreme example, as seen in the poster and trailer, includes Chev using car jumper cables to kickstart his heart while breathlessly pursuing Vang’s henchmen and agang of Mexican mobsters.
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Instead of dialing down the action, Neveldine and Taylor cranked the volume to 11 to treat Statham fans with a ridiculous shoot-em-up extravaganza that revels in its silliness and embraces the lunacy of its plot. Whether having sex with his stripper girlfriend Eve on a horse racetrack, engaging in feverish car chases and shootouts, or ingesting synthetic epinephrine and other designer drugs,Chev learns that friction will keep his heart going despite the lack of an antidote, recharging his fake heart nine times before the story ends.
Crazier yet, Chev learns his original heart has been transplanted into a Triad leader named Poon Dong (seriously) and sets out to get it back with grueling pain and anguish. If that wasn’t wild enough, Chev learns that one of his victims' heads has been artificially kept alive long enough to watch him be vengefully killed by a Mexican mafia leader with ties to Vang.
While the life-and-death stakes remain the same inCrankandCrank 2,the histrionic insanity of the latter eclipses the former so much that it proves Jason Statham action movies are at their best when they do more, not less.
Critical Response to ‘Crank’ Vs. ‘Crank: High Voltage’
While a fairly close race,Crank 2: High Voltagereceived better reviews from critics thanCrank, at least according to Rotten Tomatoes.Crankholds a 62% Rotten Tomatoes rating, whileHigh Voltagehas a 64% approval rating. High Voltage’s critical consensus reads:
“Crank: High Voltagedelivers on its promises: a fast-paced, exciting thrill ride that doesn’t take itself too seriously.”
More effusive praise for the film comes fromEntertainment Weekly’s glowing review, which states:
“The result, an eye-popping strobe of flesh and blood, is as visually stunning as it is absurdly offensive, sure to thrill some while leaving others in a state of outrage-induced catatonia.”
Jason Statham’s Crank Almost Looked Very Different
Jason Statham is one of Hollywood’s most celebrated action superstars, with his deliciously over-the-top flick Crank helping elevate his status.
Oddly enough,non-critics responded oppositely, givingCranka 71% Popcornmeter rating andCrank 2a 49% Popcornmeter score. While the novelty may have worn off with Statham fans, critics appreciated how much further Neveldine and Taylor pushed the envelope with their gonzo pacing, kinetic handheld camerawork, andGrand Theft Auto-like aesthetics. Still, the tepid audience response may have sealedCrank’s fate as apotential Statham action movie franchise.
WhereasCrankgrossed $43 million globally on a modest $12 million budget,Crank 2cost $20 million and only grossed $34 million internationally(via The Numbers). That means the original netted $30 million while the sequel gained less than half that with $14 million, hardly enough to justify a sequel. Although critics preferredHigh Voltage, word of mouth among moviegoers hindered the movie’s box office success.
As fans look forward to Statham’s latest action movie,A Working Man,Crank 2is a cautionary reminder that bigger, bolder, and better action movies may work for critics but necessarily the target audience. However, for Jason Statham specifically, more isn’t less. More is more.Crank 2: High Voltageis available to rent on AppleTV & Amazon Prime Video
