Shoots-outs. Fisticuffs. Explosions. Check, check, and double check. Wildcat offers no new twists on the action. It is the quintessential high-stakes, low-hanging-fruit story we’ve largely come to expect from the genre. But that is not a bad thing. In the case of this movie, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it—crank it up. In an adrenaline rush across London, we follow Kate Beckinsale in a preordained and surprising heist movie that is nevertheless a guns-blazing good time.
We find Ada (Beckinsale), a former elite military operative with a killer-keen edge. Now out of the game, she is raising her daughter, Charlotte (Isabelle Moxley). Ada wants nothing of her former life, that is, until her troublesome brother Edward (Rasmus Hardiker) gets in hock to some sharks. This leads to the kidnapping of Ada’s daughter and a demand for payment. Given a timeframe to save her daughter, Ada reunites her old team for an intricate heist to rob a jewelry store and pay Charlotte’s ransom. Yet the plan goes awry as Ada’s actions spark a seemingly endless turf war between the city’s criminal underworld. Facing enemy fire from all directions, Ada is at her limits as she tries to survive and rescue her daughter.
To its credit, Wildcat does not pull any punches. This is the type of movie where we know from the get-go what will happen. Now, it is not a knock against this movie, or any film that follows a similar pattern. Characters are thin sketches or genre archetypes: an example, bad guy one, bad guy two. Even our lead, Ada, is very much a stock-action heroine. She is rough, tough, and no-nonsense.
There is a moment midway through in which one of Ada’s former contacts, Cia (Mathilde Warnier), is talking to her assistant, Jody (Roxy Striar). Following an altercation with Ada, Via turns to Jody and says, “Fucking love that bitch,” Quickly, Jody responds, “fucking hate that bitch.” Not only is it a moment of levity, but it is also a perfect encapsulation of Ada’s character, a wildcat through and through.
Beckinsale is no stranger to the genre and plays a former black-ops leader trying to live an everyday life. The movie includes an unsurprising, half-baked romantic element that should not be pondered beyond its mere presence. It adds a clever wrinkle to an otherwise streamlined story. At Ada’s side is Roman (Lewis Tan), a former member of her team, who not only adds a small layer to her backstory but ultimately acts as her right-hand man.
There is both earnestness and a cheeky nature to their camaraderie, allowing for moments of pause in an otherwise pedal-to-the-metal story. The movie also sparingly sprinkles in appearances by genre favorites. Those include both Charles Dance and Alice Krige, who play Mahoney and Mrs. Vine, respectively, two kingpins of the criminal syndicates.
Now the movie sprinkles in the maternal element to elevate the stakes. This angle allows Beckinsale to add some emotional depth that might otherwise be missing from standard action fare. However, these movies spare us long-winded exposition or even intricate backstories and instead throw us right into the action.
Action is what Wildcat is about, and it delivers!
Even when the budget may strain or the effects play a little cheesy, director James Nunn, no stranger to this wheelhouse, keeps the audience engaged and on edge. The action is loud, propulsive, and satisfying. What also helps is the presence of Beckinsale. She has a spine of steel and is quick with the quips as she is with the guns and fists.
Wildcat is a reference to Ada and her past life as an ex-forces special ops officer, but it could also lovingly refer to this film as a whole. Feriocus, wily, and sudden. The story unfolds as though we’re watching a Jenga tower being built. Each setpiece or shoot is more elaborate and octane-infused. By the end, we know the tower is not only going to topple, but it will be worth it. All systems are go, every box is checked, and we leave thoroughly entertained.
Wildcat is currently playing in select theaters and is available on digital platforms courtesy of Aura Entertainment.
Shoots-outs. Fisticuffs. Explosions. Check, check, and double check. Wildcat offers no new twists on the action. It is the quintessential high-stakes, low-hanging-fruit story we've largely come to expect from the genre.
Writing & podcasting, for the love of movies.
His Letterboxd Favorites: The Dark Knight, Halloween, Jaws & A Christmas Story.
