3.8 stars
I loved the first Crank and the first time I saw this sequel was disappointed. But watching the two back to back yesterday made me realize that Crank:High Voltage was simply one-upping the first in anarchic fashion, and seen from that perspective, and with all expectations turned off, this is one weird, wild flick.
Neveldine and Taylor shoot in HD and this blu-ray disc is amazing, state of the art like their other movies. And that crispness is well-used by the insane shots and colorful weirdness here, as well as some nicely washed out scenes with flat color palettes that contrast nicely. If you like eye candy, you'll love this. And if you like being surprised, step right up.
The story makes zero effort at seriousness; the word "implausible" is mentioned early on and is a good watchword for C:HV. Nothing here is meant to be taken seriously, merely to be entertaining. Crank's silly Chinatown scene is echoed by a horse race version, a sign that N/T are here purely for the laughs and the action. And Amy Smart delevers a whole new side of raunchy goofiness to her character this time around.
While not as non-stop as Crank, HV does have more than its share of action, and the whole recharge theme is played for laughs pretty well, especially as Statham gives his all to those shots. His face is very funny at times, and this must be his most humorous turn to date.
Too wild and weird for some, no doubt, this movie will be perfect eye candy/brainfreeze for others. If you like Statham, Smart, the craziness and visual clarity of N/T, and/or general insanity, then you'll enjoy this silly ride.Get more detail about Crank 2: High Voltage.