When the days blur together and you are on the run nothing is better than a little Double Threat

INDIE MOVIE REVIEW - WRITTEN BY JOE COMPTON

DOUBLE THREAT 

After skimming money from the mob, a beautiful, well-trained fighter finds herself on the run with a kind, naïve accountant whose life is about to get more thrilling than he ever could have imagined.

Director: Shane Stanley
Writer: CJ Walley
Stars: Danielle C. Ryan, Dawn Olivieri, Matthew Lawrence

Favorite line in the movie: "This is NOT a Hallmark Movie."

 WHAT THIS MOVIE DOES WELL: I am a sucker for movies that jump you in, literally from the first scene and then kind of explain as they go. I think it's clever writing and a great approach to set the mood, style, and pacing we are about to experience. Both CJ Walley's 3 Act Structure model framing here in the words and actions and Shane Stanley's approach to the visuals we see really keep this movie humming. Is it corny and cliché? Yeah but...the other clever element that I think helps resonate on screen and probably comes from the script is the actors' approach. They ride with it, instead of pull at it. Which helps both soften the impact and show playfulness toward.

Especially Danielle C Ryan, who plays Natasha. I bought in right from the jump with Danielle's approach and then throughout the reveal process the manner in which she shows us Tasha on screen and that character's arc is real impressive. Especially as we head into the 2nd into 3rd Act. 

In fact I really feel like another gear was reached by all in this interesting transition from the 2nd into the 3rd Act. That includes Shane Stanley's directing, which settles in nicely enough to let us absorb some of the frenetic pacing established in the 1st act into the 2nd. It was going to be hard for this movie to maintain that, especially given its propensity to lean on the clichés and corniness a bit. That would have propelled this movie in the mind field of so many movies of its ilk to make that mistake, especially of the Indie variety. So I like the hard turn this takes and that allowed me to appreciate the clichés and corniness a little more. 

It certainly helped me to embrace both Matthew Lawrence's and Dawn Olivieri's characters. Both of which I was having a hard time not being too critical of at first, I realize some of that was the desired effect and on purpose but they both turned out to be very important not only in the story itself, but my personal enjoyment of this film. 

There is a very clever and fun scene in a bar, that leads to the parallel pivotal moments for the men of this film. I thought this was writing gold and good on Shane Stanley for not making it over complicated with pans and zooms, just setting 2 fun two shots from 2 angles and letting the acting do the heavy lifting. I also came to appreciate as we unwound in this tangled mess the movie weaved for us and wrapped us in that Kevin Joy, who plays Ellis, Matthew Lawrence who plays Jimmy, and Dawn Olivieri who plays Ask played it all the way they did because it ratcheted up a lot of ways to feel about the characters and the ensuing 3rd act crescendo. 

That all being said, honestly the last 2 scenes were a bit more rough around the edges then I would have liked but I really have come to forgive it for simple fact that this movie was not Indie fluff fare that needed salt and pepper or a studio touch. This movie was well seasoned, well shot, well written, and very nicely acted. The winning combination to be sure. 

 
WHY CHAMPION THIS MOVIE: I will say if you were a fan of the TV show Chuck you will probably recognize this premise a tad bit or at least be reminded of it. If you like action with a little sarcastic humor and surprisingly well rounded out character arcs with a little resolve in them I am not sure how you can not like this movie. The performances are solid, the directing will captivate you enough for whatever theme you might be captured by, and the script gets you most of the way there. It a solid weekend, fun movie worth checking out.

YOU CAN WATCH IT RIGHT NOW  OVER ON AMAZON PRIME HERE