Lou is an action flick that recently dropped on Netflix. I've been meaning to review it for a while, but just getting around to it. It stars Allison Janney, which is very unexpected as she normally plays motherly roles in animation and TV series. She's not frequently seen in film let alone action films or even as a lead. So it made sense that her face looked familiar and voice brought certain animations like "F is For Family" and "Q-Force" to mind, but I just couldn't quite place her at first.
The film starts off feeling like a disaster survivalist movie, with Janney playing an old emotionless recluse woman in the woods, roaming the forest like a primal hunter who refuses to let her age determine her pace. Acting along side her is the very talented Jurnee Smollet from "True Blood", Love Craft Country and the "Twilight Zone".
**What's it about (A few spoilers ahead - I won't ruin the ending) **
Janney's character Lou at first seems like a miserable old recluse who dislikes her young single mother neighbor Hannah played by Jurnee. Lou is well known by the locals on this small island in the middle of no where, and she is often seen strapped with a rifle to her back. On approach of a storm, trouble comes brewing in the form of men who abduct Hannah's daughter Vee. This is when Lou's true nature emerges as she takes on the hunt for the little girl like a tracking dog. At first this bewilders Hannah, who always thought Lou disliked her, but figured, because a child was missing, maybe she had sympathy as a woman.
When Lou catches up to the kidnappers we see a display of Liam Neeson circa "Taken" emerge and it is then we realize, we are dealing with a full blow action movie, as Lou dispatches her opponents with a level of expertise that could only have been developed from serious military styled training. As the hunt continues for the daughter, it is revealed why Vee was kidnapped and Lou has a deep connection to this reason.
Review
I won't give out anymore details to the story in case you plan to watch it. What I will say is this, if you are looking for an action movie, that is well shot, punches above it's weight class, and gives you the type of thrills you would expect from "Taken" or "Nobody", this film pulls that off surprisingly well though not on the same level. It's not a perfect action movie and with Janney's size and age, it might be hard for some to suspend their disbelief to go along with a woman who might be in her 60's taking on much younger mercenaries, but she 100% has the attitude and makes it look believable as the character. The movie also has some good twists. It won't be your favourite action movie, and Janney probably won't be your favourite choice as an action hero, but I still think this is a good pass the time action movie. If you have already seen Lou, please let me know in the comments what you thought. Do you agree that it was a good action movie or do you disagree? Let me know why? If you haven't seen it, let me know if you plan to see it after this review.
This is no John Wick, but it's worth a watch for sure. I definitely enjoyed it from beginning to end.
