Right, so you saw Crank and enjoyed it… well done. To say Crank had a lot of heart is an understatement. The public display of affection, the pulsating action, the heart-stopping moments and the heartbeat bass were incredible and Jason Statham wasn’t too bad either.

The original had the action reflex of a kung-fu squirrel on Red Bull and the comic agility of a David Spade stand-up routine in a maximum security prison. It was no-punches-pulled Statham with the ultimate high-octane, adrenaline-pumping action movie plot, but that was way back in 2006…

Catch the rest of the review and the trailer after the jump…

Now Crank: High Voltage does the impossible, by stepping it up a notch… possible. It’s like Chev Chelios has gone to hell, because it’s real hot and there’s just no letting up in this overblown sequel. This is action porn to adrenaline junkies, who will snort it right up… getting their fix and left on the edge of their seats panting for more.

At just over 80 minutes, it’s a roller-coaster ride starting with Chev’s resurrection… He didn’t die from the impact of hitting a tar road after falling from a plane – surprise, surprise (so that’s what the wink was about) and picks up the pace as he tracks his biological heart, using a battery-powered replacement, weaving a destructive path of chaos in his wake. Instead of upping the stakes to get his heart racing like the first adventure, he’s in constant need of… you got it, high voltage. This results in a series of over-the-top scenarios involving electricity, whether it’s electrified pet collars or car batteries… he needs to recharge.

The movie doesn’t take itself seriously… adding some unsavoury comedy just like Crank, which diminishes the gory violence and sexual overtones. Basically, it’s a post modern, unapologetic, openly racist, misogynistic, YouTube generation, instant cult, dick flick overload on fast-forward. Sound like your cup of tea?

It’s like Crank got an injection of Tarantino and a spiked Malatof cocktail from Borat. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor know the film language of sequels, which seem to be pumped up versions of the original nowadays. If you don’t have George Lucas to muck things up with a few Benjamins… then you’ve got to recruit cult icons like Bai Ling and David Carradine, make the violence more overt, the sexuality more perverse and the pop culture explosion even more dynamic.

Crank: High Voltage arrests the viewer with dark comedy, over-the-top set pieces, outrageous action and ridiculous one-liners. Statham thrives in this zone, where his action hero antics are given the freedom to roam wild, unshaven and unchecked with the help of a topless, taped nipple stripper in the likeness of Amy Smart (it really is her).

Sure, they (only just) censor another public display of affection with a loosely-clad fembot on a race course and temper the violence with some pop culture silliness, but without these elements the film would probably not be released to big screen. Crank 2 doesn’t quite rival Rotten.com for bad taste, but breaks every rule in the book with irreverence and quirky, fast-paced style. People that “handled” Crank will not handle the sequel – definitely not a first date movie, an afternoon treat for Grandma or a pick me up for the faint-hearted.

Crank 2 is exactly that, a second wind with the same formulaic plot, more guns, muscle cars and a troop of half-naked babes. Think Pulp Fiction, Crank and Borat and you’ll have a good idea of what to expect. There’s still room for the Crank team to create a trilogy and “why the hell not” is what fans will be thinking.

Could this be the ultimate dick flick (get it, opposite of chick flick)? It’s certainly a contender. While it’s edgier than the original, the movie lacks the same novelty of concept and caliber when it comes to action… making it an outrageous action flick and one for a guys night out.

The bottom line: NFSV.

Release date: 11 September, 2009

Watch Official Crank: High Voltage Movie Trailer

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