A devoted daughter is attempting to figure out the cause of her father's passing.
Netflix’s latest action flick, Trigger Warning, stars Jessica Alba, Mark Webber, and Anthony Michael Hall. On paper, it sounds like a recipe for a solid action thriller. Unfortunately, this movie is more like a culinary disaster that leaves you wondering why you didn't just order takeout instead. Let’s break down this cinematic chaos and see if we can find a silver lining amidst the rubble.
Jessica Alba plays a devoted daughter on a mission to uncover the truth behind her father's mysterious death. Along the way, she finds herself embroiled in a web of corruption, violence, and downright silly situations.
Trigger Warning wrapped filming in New Mexico in October 2021. By the time the movie releases in 2024, it will have spent a whopping two years in post-production. The original spec script was penned by Josh Olson and John Brancato way back in 2016, making its journey to the screen a long and winding road. Described as a “female version of First Blood and John Wick,” the movie promises a lot but delivers very little.
What I Liked (Or, The Tiny Glimmers of Hope in an Otherwise Dull Movie)
Jessica Alba Back in Action: Seeing Jessica Alba return to the action genre is a treat. She still has the charisma and screen presence that made her a star in the first place. Plus, she’s nice to look at, which is a good thing because you’ll need something to distract you from the terrible dialog.
A Couple of Decent Action Scenes: There are one or two action sequences that are genuinely fun to watch. These brief moments of excitement are like finding a good scene in a bad movie – they’re few and far between but worth mentioning.
What I Disliked (Or, The Many Reasons This Movie is a Hot Mess)
Terrible Dialog: The dialog in Trigger Warning is cringe-worthy. It’s like the script was written by someone who took a crash course in “Action Movie Clichés 101” and decided to cram every bad line into this film.
Unbelievable Action: Watching a 125-pound Jessica Alba beat up three 250-pound men is about as believable as seeing a cat pilot a spaceship. Sure, it’s fun to imagine, but in reality, it’s just plain silly.
Silly Situations: The movie is filled with scenarios that are laughable even by B-movie standards. From the unrealistic fight scenes to the absurd plot twists, Trigger Warning is a collection of poorly executed ideas.
Inconsistent Special Effects: It’s clear the special effects budget was blown on two key scenes. The rest of the movie looks like it was shot with leftover fireworks and a fog machine from a high school play.
Waste of Time: Even with Jessica Alba’s star power, this movie feels like a waste of two hours. It’s the cinematic equivalent of watching paint dry, but with more explosions and less satisfaction.
Mediocre Cast: The cast is a mix of up-and-comers and actors who have seen better days. It’s like a Hollywood rehab clinic decided to make a movie.
Wardrobe Woes: Jessica Alba’s outfits are all over the place. One minute she’s in combat gear, the next she’s wearing earrings that would make a pirate blush. And let’s not even talk about her “super marine” look – classy, indeed.
Unrealistic Torture Scene: In one scene, Alba’s character is tortured, but the aftermath leaves her with nothing more than slight discoloration. No cuts, no blood – just a minor inconvenience. It’s about as believable as a unicorn at a petting zoo.
Ridiculous Explosions: The ammunition blow-up scene is so unrealistic it physically hurts to watch. It’s like watching a Michael Bay movie on a budget, but without the charm.
Extra Tidbits (Or, Fun Facts to Make You Wonder How This Movie Got Made)
Filming Locations: Trigger Warning was shot in New Mexico, wrapping up in October 2021. Despite the lengthy post-production, the final product feels rushed and undercooked.
Long Journey to the Screen: The original script was written in 2016, five years before filming began, and eight years before the movie’s release. It’s like they found the script in a time capsule and decided to make it on a whim.
Final Thoughts and Rating
Trigger Warning is a textbook example of how not to make an action movie. Despite Jessica Alba’s best efforts, the film is weighed down by terrible dialog, unbelievable action, and silly situations. It’s a waste of time, even for die-hard action fans.
My final rating? 4.5/10. Watch it if you must, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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