Dear Watchers,We’re on the cusp of summer movie season, with all the Mandalorian battles, Spider-Man leaps and other big-budget odysseys that come with it. But one recent Netflix movie is helping usher in the summer action vibes a little early. It has hurricanes, shark attacks and plenty of other surprises to have you chomping your microwave popcorn with fearful anticipation. Our action expert Robert Daniels shares his thoughts below. If, however, you want action with some well placed gags, Robert also has a great second selection, which follows three improv artists undercover. It’s both goofy enough and flashy enough to be a solid good time. Read on for more of what Robert has to say about these films, then head here for three more of his action picks. Happy Watching. ‘Thrash’
Where to watch: Stream “Thrash” on Netflix. A bit more like “Tremors” than “Jaws,” Tommy Wirkola’s pulpy shark flick “Thrash” takes place in the fictional town of Annieville, S.C., during a hurricane. It follows several characters scattered across town. A pregnant Lisa (Phoebe Dynevor) is pinned in her car by a fallen tree; the agoraphobic Dakota (Whitney Peak) shelters in her home; her uncle Dr. Dale Edwards (Djimon Hounsou), a marine researcher, races to rescue her; three orphans are trapped in their foster parents’ house. “Thrash” leans on thoughtful editing to switch seamlessly between stories, intermingling rich character moments with gory shark attacks. The water and weather effects are equally impressive, allowing for grandiose set pieces whose absurdity gradually increases. A destructive tsunami in the film’s first half gives way to orphans throwing dynamite bombs wrapped in meat during the movie’s harebrained but delightfully B-movie climax. ‘Deep Cover’
Where to watch: Stream “Deep Cover” on Amazon Prime Video. In this film from the director Tom Kingsley, three London-based improv artists — Kat (Bryce Dallas Howard), Marlon (Orlando Bloom) and Hugh (Nick Mohammed) — are recruited by Detective Sergeant Graham Billings (Sean Bean) to go undercover. Billings believes comedians make the best covert agents because they can adjust quickly. The entertainers get more than they bargain for when they infiltrate a drug ring run by Fly (Paddy Considine), whose boss, Metcalfe (Ian McShane), believes there’s a rat in the outfit. The main draw of this rambunctious action comedy are these hapless characters. Kat’s improv students are getting big parts and leaving her behind; Marlon isn’t taken seriously by casting agents; Hugh works a thankless tech job. Together they form a rousing triple-act as unlikely action stars who often succeed through pure luck, as when a truck accidentally hits an assassin they’re dispatched to shake down.
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