Actress Zoë Kravitz makes her directorial debut in Blink Twice, a film produced by MGM. Kravitz co-wrote the screenplay with E.T. Feigenbaum. The story revolves around tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum), who encounters cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his charitable fundraising event, leading to a burgeoning romantic connection.
Slater extends an invitation to Frida and her colleague Jess (Alia Shawkat) to accompany him and his associates, including Cody (Simon Rex), Vic (Christian Slater), Tom (Haley Joel Osment), and Lucas (Levon Hawke), on an exclusive vacation to his private island. In addition, the male companions bring along their respective female partners: Sarah (Adria Arjona), Camilla (Liz Caribel), and Heather (Trew Mullen).
While the group indulges in the idyllic surroundings, peculiar events begin to transpire, causing Frida to question her perception of reality. She becomes increasingly apprehensive about the island, prompting an urgent need to uncover the truth about the unsettling occurrences if she harbors any hope of survival.
"Blink Twice" initially caught my attention under its working title, "Pu$$y Island." Based on the title alone, I expected a movie full of debaucherous behavior. Despite this, I tried to avoid watching any trailers for the film and sat down for my press screening with little idea of what to expect.
The film begins innocently enough, with Tatum's character apologizing for past indiscretions, followed by the setup for Frida and Jess to make their way to the island. I commend Kravitz and her co-writer for their careful pacing in building the narrative. The film initially focuses on fun and laughter, then takes a surprising turn. The studio's ability to keep the actual plot under wraps is commendable and adds to the intrigue of the film.
Fresh off his everyman performance in "Fly Me To The Moon" and scene-stealing extended cameo as Gambit in "Deadpool & Wolverine," Channing Tatum is primarily known for his pretty boy looks. However, he can show some range when he has the suitable material. In "Blink Twice," Tatum combines toxicity with his natural charm. The other men in the cast are equally good as overgrown man-children.
The cast's female members, including Oscar Winner Geena Davis, elicit a positive response. At the same time, emerging talents Liz Caribel and Trew Mullen effectively embody the desired party girl personas. Alia Shawkat exudes her innate charm, and Adria Arjona sustains her rapid ascent with another captivating performance. Analogous to her portrayal in "Hitman," Arjona radiates confidence and allure without resorting to overt vulgarity.
The real star of the film is Naomi Ackie. I was hoping that her lead role in the Whitney Houston biopic would be the one to break her out fully, but we all know now how that went. Here, though, Ackie more than holds her own as our female lead and displays a range of emotions. Hopefully, this will have a domino effect and open the door for more lead roles.
An impressive debut from director Zoë Kravitz, anchored by enjoyable performances from its cast, "Blink Twice," will surely keep moviegoers engaged for its wild ride.
Final Grade : B+
"Blink Twice" opens in theaters this Thursday
Comments