Crank: High Voltage (2009)
If you thought Crank didn’t take itself seriously, you haven’t seen anything yet. Crank 2: High voltage is even crazier than the first. How did they make a sequel to a movie whose final shot has the main character falling out of a helicopter, hundreds of meters up? By not caring what happens, as long as it’s off-the-wall and kind of awesome.
Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) wakes up from a coma to learn his heart has been stolen by Johnny Vang (Art Hsu). Chev escapes and goes after the thief, but there’s a problem: the battery on his artificial heart can only hold so much of a charge. He must keep himself jolted while continuing his search for the organ.
The movie is madness through and through but care has been put into it. Aesthetically, it's a sequel - with the same frantic editing techniques used. Plot-wise, events and characters from the first movie are constantly referred to. Directors Neveldine and Taylor give you more of everything: more jaw-dropping deaths, more memorable characters, more nudity, more violence, more one-liners, more insanity.
It’s impossible to figure out if Crank: High Voltage knows better than to take itself seriously, or is simply so dumb it becomes awesome again. You give up trying to solve the riddle and hop on for the ride. Twin brothers? Injuries not being nearly as fatal as they seemed at first? Whatever needs to be done. Sometimes, however, it tries a bit too hard to top itself (I thought the scene at the race track between Amy Smart and Jason Statham went too far, even for this movie) but it manages to continuously surprise you. At one point, Chev bumps into a group of real-live porn stars on strike. Even with the most rudimentary lines, even when they're playing themselves... Ron Jeremy, Jenna Haze, Nick Manning and the other adult film stars Chev meets are so terrible they make your head hurt. Say what you will about the story, but it’s undeniable that this sequel delivers exactly what it promises.
Crank: High Voltage isn't as fresh as the first. It knows this and tries to compensate by going wilder. The results can at times make you seriously question what you're doing with your life. If you liked the previous adventure, you’ve got to check out this follow-up if only to see how they validate a sequel existing. Stick around for the end credits for some additional scenes too. Some movies skirt the line between awesome and idiot. Crank: High Voltage has one foot planted firmly on both sides. It’s bananas, but a lot of fun for what it is. (On DVD, December 17, 2014)
