Crank it a second time
Nick Vracar
Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: Entertainment
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It starts going downhill right from the get go as the movie picks up from where the first one ends: Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) drops out of the sky onto a car, bounces into the air and splatters on the pavement nearby. A van pulls up to his body, scoops him off the street with a snow shovel and drives him off to have his heart removed and replaced with an artificial heart, with just enough power to keep his organs alive for a few more hours.
And then, it goes to a mirror premise of the original, as he has to constantly keep his artificial heart charged to stay alive. What follows is violence - blood measured by the gallon. Topless girls are everywhere. The film's pace is manic and frantically moving, such as in one scene where it cuts nine seconds later. This isn't a movie where you can really figure out what's going to happen next, as every scene is simply more ridiculous than the scene before it.
So, when it comes to the question of whether or not "Crank 2" is a good movie, it all depends on how much you tolerate the absurd. This isn't the kind of movie that's watched for the story, but rather for the presentation of the action. I say presentation because most other movies like to show you what's going on, with the exception of some that imitate the Bourne series. This one makes itself different from other action films by editing everything into what turns out to be a ninety-minute spiraling music video of death.
The better question would be to ask if you've seen the original "Crank." The question is not so you can follow the story, though you will probably miss a few connections. The reason is because "Crank 2"s absurdity matches the first one's and doubles it. Simply put, if you didn't like the first one, you probably won't like the second one for the same reasons. If you happen to own a copy of the first one, then it's pretty obvious that you should see the second one. Still, be sure to try and con a few friends to go along with you. This bizarre movie is an experience best shared.
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