Kate (2021) Netflix
"Got any Boom Boom Lemon?"
The latest Netflix action thriller arrives with little fanfare, but is actually a decent addition to the genre. Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as the title character, a highly trained assassin, and we're dropped instantly into the story with her on a very high profile hit. So far, so run of the mill. It shifts up as gear as Kate finds herself with just 24 hours left breathing oxygen (that old chestnut!) as dark(er) forces have administered her with something very nasty indeed. Thoughts of D.O.A and Crank immediately sprung to mind as she embarks on a mission to avenge her 'death'.
It's predictable, undemanding stuff, wheeling out cliches thick and fast, but Winstead and to a lesser extent, young co-star Miku Martineau, really give it their all. It made me wonder how Winstead's Birds Of Prey role could barely register when she absolutely owns every scene in this. She's very much a complete bad ass, as the unflinchingly, bone crunching (and very graphic) violence is meted out. But this is no indestructible herione - she's also on the receiving end of some serious pain. It doesn't shy away from her rapidly deteriorating health either...
Woody Harrelson adds a touch of class in a supporting role, but make no mistake, this is Mary Elizabeth's show!
Given it's Japanese setting, and frequent close combat setpieces, Winstead has shades of a Beatrix Kiddo like rampage. Hell, she even rocks some Asics Onitsuka Tiger sneakers, mirroring 'The Bride's' stylish footwear. The fight scenes owe a lot to John Wick (in a good way), and are very slickly choreographed, with an effectively used neon drenched backdrop.
There is a bit of a misstep with an early car chase sequence that is so heavily cg assisted, Vin Diesel would blush. There's also not a whole lot of original content here, and the film doesn't have much new to say, but it's stylish as hell, never less than highly entertaining, and has one or two genuinely moving moments in all the chaos - what more do you want on the weekend?!
One for a Friday evening.
7/10
P.S. Ufortunately, anyone craving Kate's sought after citrus tipple will be disappointed - it only exists in the the Netflix world!