Hulu’s Boss Level is an action packed version of Groundhog Day that is really bloody and a whole lot of fun!
Boss Level is a lot like Groundhog Day except with a lot more action and blood, and not as much humor. Sure, it is quite cheesy at times but it is self aware in those moments. As a fan of gore and fun deaths, this movie totally delivers. Plus, it is only an hour and a half long, so it doesn’t drag too much or get old.
In this movie Frank Grillo plays a man named Roy who keeps reliving the same day — one in which he is murdered over and over. It is sort of like Happy Death Day but he isn’t tasked with tracking down his killer since he sees all the assassins that murder him each time. Eventually he starts piecing things together along with what happened the day before things started repeating.
What Works With Boss Level
If Boss Level is meant to mostly be an action movie with a little bit of a Science Fiction twist, it pulls it off. Since this is about Roy reliving the same day over and over — and being murdered most of those days — it is filled with a whole lot of blood. Sure, there isn’t as much gore as I would have liked but there are some pretty sweet moments that had me covering my eyes up.
The cinematography is quite impressive during the fight scenes — especially the ones with Guan-Yin, who wields a sword and is extremely badass. Every time I saw a fight scene with her start I would get excited. The camera angels perfectly showcase her skills with a sword, and they are some of the best parts of the movie.
This isn’t a comedy by any means but there are some jokes that had me cracking up. Ken Jeong makes a quick appearance and he is hilarious every time he opens his mouth. Oh, and the very last line of the film makes the whole movie worth watching all on its own. The story isn’t fantastic, but it is fun, and that quote really drives it home.
What Doesn’t Work With Boss Level
Boss Level is quite predictable. Within the first thirty minutes I had the whole “twist” figured it but it didn’t stop me from enjoying this movie. No, it won’t win any awards, but honestly, I don’t think it expects to. The cast is decent and they do what they can with the script.
Something about Mel Gibson’s performance felt off to me, almost like he phoned it in, but he isn’t in it enough to make it that big of a deal. I also really understand why they gave Roy and Joe their moment, and it helped add more depth to the script, but I could have done with a tad less of it. It felt like too long of a break from the action.
Overall Thoughts
Boss Level is a movie that shouldn’t be taken too seriously — and if you go into it just wanting a fun action flick, you will be more than satisfied. As a fan of cool deaths there is a lot to enjoy about Boss Level. As Roy lives the same day over and over, he dies in more and more crazy ways.
While there is a bit of a heartwarming story buried in the script, it would be best to just try to ignore it and not pay too much close attention to it. If you do, it might lose you. Just enjoy Boss Level for the action, and you will be happy.
About Boss Level
Trapped in a time loop that constantly repeats the day of his murder, former special forces agent Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) uncovers clues about a secret government project that could unlock the mystery behind his untimely death. In a race against the clock, Pulver must hunt down Colonel Ventor (Mel Gibson), the powerful head of the government program, while outrunning skilled ruthless assassins determined to keep him from the truth in order to break out of the loop, save his ex-wife (Naomi Watts) and live once again for tomorrow.
Directed by Joe Carnahan. Written by Chris Borey & Eddie Borey and Joe Carnahan. Produced by Joe Carnahan, Frank Grillo, Randall Emmett, George Furla. The film stars Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts, Annabelle Wallis, Ken Jeong, Will Sasso, Selina Lo, Meadow Williams and Michelle Yeoh.
Boss Level hits Hulu on March 5th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.