Boss Level

For B-movie silliness with a video-game concept, Boss Level has a surprisingly fresh and imaginative screenplay with twists that take the story clichés twice as far in the plot as you would expect. And with a lot of original funny moments. Non-stop entertainment with a pleasantly light tone that (thank God) doesn’t take itself seriously at all. (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… (11/29/2020)

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. (11/23/2020)

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. (12/06/2020)

The story looks like it was written by two 10 y.o. boys and Joen Carnaham helped them to turn that into a script. Even if that was the case, it would be fine, really, because Boss Level is mostly good fun (I’m seriously lacking comedies among the genres) with only the occasionally unlikeable Frank Grillo. (03/31/2023)