If you’re a fan of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” — and who isn’t, really? — you can’t help but be a little interested in “The Killer’s Game.”
In theaters this week, the action comedy stars Dave Bautista, but it also boasts Pom Klementieff. The two, of course, portray Drax and Mantis, respectively, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and are comedic gold in a couple of the big-screen “Guardians” adventures, as well as in the hilarious “Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” from 2022.
That pairing, however, isn’t enough to lift “The Killer’s Game” above the level of mediocrity, the tonally challenged flick squandering a vaguely promising first act by devolving into a warmed-over “John Wick” wanna-be.
Helmed by JJ Perry, the director of the similarly uneven 2022 Netflix release “Day Shift,” “The Killer’s Game” plays like two separate movies for much of its roughly hour-and-45-minute runtime. When the beefy Bautista, cast as renowned assassin Joe Flood, shares the screen with veteran actor Ben Kingsley, who portrays his mentor, or co-star Sofia Boutella, who plays his love interest, it fits roughly within reality as we know it and even finds an emotional center; at all other times, it’s an over-the-top kill-fest, with skulls crushed, body parts severed and impalings to spare.
Were those action scenes topnotch — aka “Wick”-level — and not merely passable, that would be a bit more forgivable.
Written by Rand Ravich and James Coyne, who have adapted the 1997 book by Jay R. Bonansinga, “The Killer’s Game” introduces us to Joe in Budapest, where he’s on the job at a more-than-century-old opera house, which on this night is hosting a ballet. He does his job quietly, as usual; nonetheless, machine gun fire follows the “retirement of his target,” and he helps dancer Maize — with whom he’d locked eyes during the performance — out of the building safely.
On the street, she thanks him and worries about the headache he’s having, but when she turns her back, he vanishes.
However, when he returns something to her at a dance studio, she gives him her number and — after Joe workshops a few follow-up texts — they’re out to dinner, where, of course, they hit it off. Soon they’re dating. She continues to dance, and he continues to kill, worrying, increasingly, about how she’d feel if she knew how he makes his substantial living.
However, he’s also seen a doctor, who informs him the test results are dire. He will die in, perhaps, three months, and the best they can do is make him comfortable.
That is not how Joe — who’s always worked within a set of industry rules and has retired only those who’ve deserved it — wants to leave this world. He meets with his handler, Zvi (Kingsley), about directing some money to Maize and, more consequently, having himself assassinated. Zvi agrees to handle the former but not the latter, imploring his friend to fight to the end by visiting more doctors — even a shaman, if necessary.
Enter Klementieff’s Marianna, whose business also is handling assassins. She is more than happy to take $2 million to have Joe killed, as she holds a huge grudge against him.
However, just before the killing window opens, Joe gets a call from his doctor, who says there was a mix-up with the tests and that Joe should be fine.
Unable to convince Marianna to cancel the contract, he soon is faced with a parade of killers — single operatives and groups, most with silly gimmicks and even sillier names. Most aren’t in Joe’s class, but Lovedahl (Terry Crews) proves to be a bit more of a problem.
Bautista (“Blade Runner 2049,” “Dune”) doesn’t have much range, and he isn’t called upon here to use his comedic gifts too often. That said, there’s simply something compelling about his performance, especially when he’s opposite “Gandhi” star Kinglsey or Boutella (“Atomic Blonde,” the “Rebel Moon” movies). It’s measured but not flat.
More time with Bautista and Klementieff would have helped “The Killer’s Game,” as, unsurprisingly, there’s a certain crackle to the limited time the two are in the frame together.
A former professional wrestler, Bautista is, of course, imposing enough to be convincing in the myriad action sequences, most of which are, again, of the forgettable variety — even with all the gruesome deaths. Perry, who has a background in martial arts, hasn’t figured out how to deliver something special in this arena.
“The Killer’s Game” is afoot, but unless you’re looking for what’s only intermittently a pleasant distraction, one heavily seasoned with violence, you need not play.
‘The Killer’s Game’
Where: Theaters.
When: Sept. 13.
Rated: R for strong bloody violence throughout, language, some sexual material, brief drug use and nudity.
Runtime: 1 hour, 44 minutes.
Stars (of four): 2.
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