To avoid an endless tirade of electricity jokes about the Kate Beckinsale vehicle, Jolt, which is streaming on Amazon Prime, it’s best to just get it all out of the way in a single summation. Static electricity basically works like a magnet, with positive and negative charges, and when there is an imbalance, you get electricity. It’s weaker, and unable to really power much of anything, but you can have fun with it at home. Applying that to this film, Beckinsale as Lindy (a girl trying her best to function in the world despite her exceptional anger problem) is the main attraction here—and she’s very positive. The storyline, and character development, however, is an overwhelming negative, but flashes of action sequences and amusing dialogue make Jolt worth watching from your couch.
Written by Scott Wascha (his first credit to date) and directed by Tanya Wexler, focuses in on Lindy, who has had a rough life trying to fit in considering her affinity for losing her temper and resorting to brutal violence. Finally, Dr. Munchin (Stanley Tucci) has come along and created a device which allows her to subdue those urges through a self-administered electric shock. Part of her treatment, for whatever reason, is trying to get through a normal date without assaulting anyone. This proves delightfully difficult, but she does develop quick feelings for Justin (Jai Courtney), so when he’s brutally murdered after they’ve gone on a few dates, she’s understandably upset. Electric vest or no electric vest, she is not someone you want angry with you.
Lindy isn’t interested in allowing the detectives assigned to the case handle it, and considering that clues eventually lead towards an “untouchable” crime boss, that is totally justifiable. That doesn’t mean, however, that Detectives Vicars (Bobby Cannavale) and Nevin (Laverne Cox) are going to stay out of the way either, and their time spent at odds with her is what works best in the movie. Cox plays her role absurdly over the top, trading spirited quips with both Vicars and Lindy, but in a way that totally fits the film’s tone. Cannavale plays the more subdued partner, who continuously tries to help Lindy either because he trusts her, or just has the hots for her. Likely some combination of the two.
There are no especially interesting villains on screen. Most of the opposition exists for Lindy to quickly dispatch after asking a few questions and firing off some witty lines that anyone less charismatic than Beckinsale would have a hard time delivering. Beckinsale elevates the quality of everything on screen, aided by Wexler and the cinematography of Jules O’Loughlin, who loves a good rotating, upside-down shot.
There are some fun elements of Jolt to relay Lindy’s origin story that shouldn’t be quickly dismissed. Not so much the flashbacks to her as a kid and the rough upbringing, but the ones that show all the things she has tried in order to control her urges, and how she’s molded all of those into the impressive skill set she has today. It’s a fun way to explain her being confident in almost any scenario—except behind the wheel, which comes into play during a brief car chase that’s only worth mentioning because of the breathtaking McLaren 600LT Spider that she drives.
There is a point late in the film where Cannavale and Beckinsale seem to try and elevate the material beyond, when their characters have a tender moment, and give her character a bit more depth. The early intimacy with Justin didn’t seem earned, and the only real flashes of substance prior to that were because of how fantastic Tucci and Beckinsale are bouncing off each other. It’s too little too late in terms of ratcheting up the quality of the film overall, but it certainly showcases that had they wanted to go for that tone throughout, the capability was there.
As it is, Jolt is a fun, but obviously flawed movie where you take the good with the bad. The soundtrack is cool, but sometimes you can’t hear the dialogue. You use a cool dream sequence to show what Lindy would do to people if she wasn’t controlling herself, but then you do it to death. You have a seemingly indestructible character that can get out of a situation with a gun pointed at her head, but lets the same guy cheap shot her twice. She has this rage she can’t control against civilians, but sometimes she restrains herself in a fight for her life? There is a plot twist, but it’s easier to see than that giant E at the top of an eye chart. You have the iconic Susan Sarandon in your trailer, but you save her for the last minute in an attempt to set up a sequel.
It is entirely possible that in the age of streaming movies, Jolt 2 could happen. Kate Beckinsale is fantastic, and watching her dropping bad guys and crude jokes is a good time whether the movie is especially strong or not. She has certainly done more with less before, and the supporting cast seemed to be enjoying themselves. Jolt rarely tried to take itself seriously, so we shouldn’t either. Sometimes a little mindless action can push the right button.
