In Action is an indie film that constantly asks if it is possible to get too creative. Sean (Sean Kenealy) and Eric (Eric Silvera) are two aspiring screenwriters who are mistaken for terrorists. They soon find out rogue NSA agents want to use their latest script to plot an actual attack. On top of that, they plan to frame the writers. Can the two friends save the day?
The plot may sound out there, but it is actually pretty standard for an action movie. In Action is a loving homage. The film is filled with tropes from action movies from the 1980s and 1990s. Kenealy and Silvera (who also wrote and directed the film) clearly love the genre. The film has an overabundance of callbacks and references to adrenaline filled tales of previous decades.
Pouring all of their love and very little money (even for an indie movie) into the film works in the earlier portions of the film. There is a creativity and humor that stands out in the early portions. Yet, it is unsurprising that the script of In Action starts to run out of ideas. Much like a YouTube video, the comedy is reliant on repetition and volume. As is often the case with this type of humor, it is often more irritating than it is funny.
That being said, Kenealy and Silvera have great chemistry. This is important since they are basically the only two characters in the film. This is more than just about an actor carrying a film; the leads are the film. The two make even the most difficult moments of In Action bearable. Their imagination is on full display, but it is their interactions that make the film work.
In Action will be available on digital platforms May 11
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