Boss Level

Für einen Blödsinn zweiter Klasse mit einem Videospiel-Konzept ein überraschend frisches und einfallsreiches Drehbuch mit Wenden, welche das Handlungsklischee gleich zweimal in der Geschichte woandershin verschieben, als man erwarten würde. Mit vielen originellen witzigen Momenten. Ein Nonstop-Spaß mit einem angenehm leichten Ton, der sich selbst (Gott sei Dank) nicht im geringsten ernst nimmt. (12.12.2020)

Hmm, that a film called Boss Level doesn’t have, well, a boss level was quite a surprise. Otherwise, this is a likeable action time loop with a video game logic, where Frank Grillo has many attempts to overcome numerous obstacles in order to reach the final boss performed by Mel Gibson. And, as it’s clear from the opening statement of this review, the climax with Mel Gibson was not very satisfactory. But yeah, I had fun, I was in the mood for something this silly and easygoing, so bugger it, 4*, though I can imagine I would trash it if I were in a different mood; objectively, it’s bollocks after all… (29.11.2020)

A tight action B-movie with a time loop reminiscent of a video game with the excellent Frank Grillo, who has quite possibly the best performance of his career. The main character wakes up every morning with a bunch of assassins trying to kill him for reasons unknown, and when he fails, his day resets again. Very entertaining and playfully with lots of ideas, fine lines, and decent action, even though there are no proper fights or shootouts, it's mostly very spectacular and quick disposals, but it doesn't matter too much. Mel Gibson and Naomi Watts are just for show, but even in such a small space Mel managed to impress me, especially with his story with the snake. Good fun. Story****, Action****, Humor****, Violence***, Entertainment****, Music***, Visuals****, Atmosphere****, Suspense****. 8/10. (24.11.2020)

Carnahan’s early Xmas gift to connoisseurs. Even though this is rather a cheap, nostalgically bloody production with just average special effects and an uncomplicated, nineties story, it has so many nods and so much self-parody that it’s easy to forgive. The time loop is the catalyst, but Boss Level is more about love of action, old video games and family. Frank Grillo is great as both ultimate killer and caring father. He reels off great one-liners, one after another, so you can’t help but root for him. Gibson enjoys himself greatly in the role of colonel with a savior complex who likes listening to himself speak. Naomi Watts manages to chisel out the most complex of characters in just two scenes. Great fun, but I’m very sad that I won’t be able to see it in the movie theater, thanks to Covid. There's something I don't like about him. He has that... trait. ... The overachiever who makes up for a lack of talent with hustle. (23.11.2020)

Original, fast-paced, fun. Understandably, it doesn't surpass the conceptually similar Edge of Tomorrow, the plot is too trivial for that, but that was not the intention. Carnahan sets the viewer on a sarcastic note from the start and doesn't take his foot off the gas until the very end, which is appropriately weird. The buffed-up Grillo shows that he can be a pretty likeable dad in addition to a perfect figure, so for daring to take his acting creations a step further, it's definitely a thumbs up. Gibson, meanwhile, plays his grizzled bad-ass standard of recent years. (12.12.2020)

Es hat so gewirkt, dass die Geschichte zwei zehnjährige Jungs geschrieben haben und Joe Carnahan daraus ein Drehbuch gemacht hat, aber was soll’s… Auch wenn dem so wäre, wäre es in Ordnung. Boss Level ist vor allem eine gute Unterhaltung (bei den Genres vermisse ich die Bezeichnung Komödie) mit Frank Grillo, der nur ab und zu unsympathisch ist. (31.03.2023)

Boss Level ist ein ausreichend unterhaltsamer und humorvoller Actionfilm mit einer Zeitschleifen-Geschichte, aber nach dem erfrischenden Palm Springs von diesem Jahr ist es für dieses Subgenre ein bisschen zu wenig. Ich habe mehr Raum für Mel Gibson vermisst, er hat praktisch nur einen typisch bösen Monolog gehabt und taucht dann nur gelegentlich in der Geschichte auf. Es gibt kein episches "Bosskampf"-Finale. Wenn der Abspann erscheint, erwartet man, dass sie anhalten und noch eine letzte Szene kommt. Aber sie kommt nicht. Am Ende ist das eigentliche Highlight des Films die Annäherung des Hauptcharakters an seinen Sohn, aber den Großteil des Rests, einschließlich der komisch vielfältigen Mini-Bosse, wird man wahrscheinlich ein paar Tage nach dem Anschauen vergessen. Angenehm unterhaltsam, aber nicht so gut, wie es sein könnte und sollte. (27.11.2020)

Boss Level is a bit of a mixed bag for me. The theme is seriously worn out, but hey, all the action and fight scenes were shot brilliantly, and the main character's quips were pretty funny, so as an action flick, it'd get a solid four stars from me. However... the creators didn't stop there. They delved into a philosophical and psychological defense of life's true values, forcing the viewer to activate at least a part of their brain from relaxation mode. And right at that moment, the film stopped working for me because, in my opinion, it didn't need to be more than a straightforward action joyride. That cost it two stars. As an action romp with undemanding humor, 4 stars; with all those pontifications and Mel Gibson's drawn-out fable about a boar and a snake, just 2*+. (16.05.2022)

I love films with a time loop and Boss Level sure is an enjoyable light movie, nevertheless, with the disadvantage of being neither as interesting (Source Code) nor as entertaining and visually stunning (Edge of Tomorrow) as the competition. (06.12.2020)