Head Rush has an unabashedly goofy premise that will turn off audiences immediately or keep people hooked for the long haul. Tam is working on his latest graphic novel. Unfortunately, he is afflicted with a terminal illness and only has a couple of weeks to live. He is frustrated and angry and takes it out on his wife and child. Thankfully, his uncle is an experimental surgeon who can perform the procedure that will save Tam. One head transplant later, Tam has superhuman abilities. But along with his new powers comes a dark secret.
Wacky plot aside, there are a number of well choreographed action scenes. This includes a sequence early on in which Tam envisions himself as the hero he is writing about. The camerawork is fantastic as it can be lightning quick and smooth or erratic and frenzied depending on the situation. Head Rush pulls the audience into its fight scenes in a way that similar action films can have trouble doing.
This is important since the plot is so silly. The zaniness does not end at Tam’s body being placed on some sort of super solider. As Head Rush continues, there are more twists and revelations. It can get more convoluted than this type of film has any right to. There is a charm to its willingness to lean into its more outlandish ideas, but it is usually more frustrating than anything else.
The movie never settles on what tone it is going for. There is intentional comedy and drama, but it is also so over the top that it sometimes feel like none of it is meant to be taken seriously. Instead of adding to the hijinks, this makes Tam an insufferable lead character. It is pretty much impossible to get behind him. For all its faults, Head Rush does provide some kooky fun.
Head Rush comes to digital December 27
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