Maybe I should Take up Drinking
Introduction
I have gone through countless horrible films this year, and surprisingly enough, none of them felt like a chore to watch. Then came Netlix’s AVA, a 2020 film so dull and contrived that it almost managed to bore me to sleep within the first half-hour. Ten minutes more than 2001: A Space Odyssey.
AVA’s original director, Matthew Newton, was replaced by Tate Taylor due to his alleged history of assault making its way to the public eye. While unfortunate, this change of vision could have been the reason behind AVA’s poor direction.
Plot and Setting
The narrative follows the titular Ava, an empathetic assassin hired by a secretive agency to eliminate specific targets. One day she decides to breach protocol and questions her mark over their hit before taking his life. This act of defiance stirs up her agency, who now want to place a bounty on her head.
AVA’s premise suddenly shifts early on as we discover that Ava wants to rekindle her relationship with her family and friends after disappearing for so many years. For most of the film, the tone dramatically changes to a convoluted romantic drama.
The agency narrative eventually gets relegated to a mere subplot, which is only placed into the lime-light again towards the movie’s conclusion. So, if you are diving into this film expecting something akin to John Wick, you will be sorely disappointed.
Speaking about subplots, AVA practically oozes them out of their seams, with most existing as a means of lengthening the narrative. The film’s disastrous pacing and thinly laid plot feel like they were stitched together by a toddler. The worst subplot revolves around a character’s gambling addiction, which takes up a third of the showing.
This film has the pacing of a snail going through constant cardiac arrests. As almost nothing interesting happens throughout its runtime, making it a monotonous piece to watch. To make matters worse, the film’s primary relationship dynamic is a toxic love triangle between the world’s most unlikable cast of characters.
AVA’s only saving grace is its action choreography and its cinematography, which admittedly are decent. The film is at its best during its action scenes, but they are sparsely placed throughout the film’s run-time. The most memorable moments occur during the first third of the movie. However, outside of her two introductory jobs, AVA does not feature much action until the final 20 minutes.
Characters and Performances
Almost everyone in this film sounds miserable as if they were acting at gunpoint. It is a shame because lead actress Jessica Chastain has an exceptional portfolio under her belt with films like Interstellar. However, her acting is dumbed down by a poor script and an annoying cast of characters. By the end, the only stimulating character quality that did not manage to get butchered by the narrative was her will-they-won’t-they relationship with alcohol.
It also does not help that the supporting cast was also about as exciting as getting a rash, with a toxic love triangle between Ava, her sister, and her husband Michael (portrayed by ) taking centre stage. Judy’s (Jessie Weixler) and Michael’s abandonment issues, thanks to Ava, stand at the forefront of this movie’s storm of subplot diarrhoea. While Judy was able to get over her matters with her sister midway through the film, her husband decides to run the rest of the bickering race for the remainder of the AVA’s runtime.
Common’s line delivery leaves much to be desired. His long pauses make him sound like a malfunctioning robot trying to load the next line of the script but continuously getting blue-screened. It also does not help that he really underplays his role, rarely allowing any emotion into his performance.
Then we have her mentor, Duke, portrayed by John Malkovich, Ava’s only healthy relationship. A man whose calm demeanor and soothing voice can put a charging bear to sleep. As Ava’s handler and mentor, Duke provides Ava with aid and information whenever she needs it. While Malkovich is a good actor, a livelier mentor figure would have probably been more suitable for the role.
Conclusion
Movies are made with the purpose of entertainment, which means their primary function is to deliver a particular emotion that the creators want us to feel. In the case of an action flick such as AVA, one should be fed with excitement. Unless Tate’s and Newton’s intention was to bore us to death, AVA fails to establish this sensation.
It is hard to recommend AVA when it can’t muster up my interest. I found it almost painfully hard to write this review, as nothing happens of note that is worth mentioning.
If you are looking for something a bit more satisfying, I would recommend checking out Salt; a spy on the run film, starring Angelina Jolie. However, if you wanted a similar premise surrounding assassins, I would suggest checking out Jason Statham‘s 2011 film, The Mechanic.
