Not ten full minutes passed and I was absolutely delighted. 'Double threat' is astoundingly direct and briskly paced, and we are launched headlong into the plot. The action rears up its head with such speed and forthrightness that one can only laugh in bewilderment. This is no accident, though, because this movie isn't purely an action-thriller - it's an action-comedy. And it's a whole lot of fun!
'Double threat' is nothing if not a vehicle for star Danielle C. Ryan, and this is emphasized by the fact that protagonist Natasha is the centerpiece of the plot generally, and both the action and comedy specifically. Natasha is vibrantly flippant, irreverent, lighthearted, and free-spirited - at times stopping just shy of "ditzy" - but switches on a dime to startlingly smart discussion, highly trained and practiced combat skills, and brazen confidence. Ryan manages these aspects of the character, and the shifts, with wonderful dexterity and range, and it's genuinely a joy to watch her at work. She's obviously hardly a household name, but from what I've seen of her (here and elsewhere), she has definite and commendable skills. I don't mean to count out her co-stars, as I think they're all fine, but she unquestionably commands the spotlight, and I'm glad for it.
Beyond Ryan and her character, the fabulous entertainment here is built on playing fast, loose, and even indifferently with tropes, clichés, and convention. The argumentative figures we're shown as primary antagonists (alternately pinheaded or very in-the-know), the immediate friendship between Natasha and unwitting bystander Jimmy, the deliberately overt song selections (that are excellent in and of themselves), the pointed oversimplification of Natasha's condition, marvelously blunt dialogue - everything here is giddily gung-ho in being geared for gaucheness. Action scenes may flare up seemingly out of the blue with little connectivity from A to B, while the ease with which Natasha handles adversaries is notably over the top. Character development and themes are consciously forced through a grinder as gracelessly as they possibly could be. Sure, broadly speaking we've seen features like this before, but I don't think for one moment that this makes 'Double threat' any less entertaining.
If a step down from major studio fare, the fight choreography and stunts are well orchestrated and amply enjoyable. The movie is well made from a technical standpoint - direction, cinematography, sound design, editing, and so on, and other contributions from behind the scenes including hair and makeup. There are times when Tommy Fields' dynamic original score actually impresses outright as it lends to the mood of a scene. Beyond the rampant tongue-in-cheek bluster, writer CJ Walley peppers some earnest cleverness throughout the screenplay. Some honest humor comes from instances of snappy dialogue or sight gags, while the bare-faced playfulness that characterizes the film at large translates into an openness in the scene writing, a willingness to do whatever feels right in a moment regardless of tone. As a result, no matter what 'Double threat' crams into its length, any given cross-section is unexpectedly sharp and tight in its conjuration and execution. In a way, I'm somewhat reminded of the best movies of B-movie star Cynthia Rothrock (those from the 80s and 90s) - only with less martial arts, and with updated sensibilities of style that are more appropriate for 2022.
I leave it to those more personally familiar with or studied of dissociative identity disorder to break down just how well or poorly the picture touches upon the condition. I will say, though, that there's no special concern for realism - only highfalutin fun. At least in spirit, the title distinctly lobs a criticism at ableist thinking with a noteworthy early line: "just because someone's wired differently doesn't necessarily mean they're broken." On the other hand, words like "crazy" and "insane" are scattered throughout the screenplay a bit too freely. Moreover, a passing quip from antagonist Ask borders on completely unnecessary transphobia. An effort late in the runtime to give Natasha a back story is a trifle too out of place, and this echoes the fact that the movie is undeniably a tad uneven. That's especially true in the very last stretch as utmost frivolousness is traded in for greater seriousness, and a final scene portends a sequel. I didn't say 'Double threat' was perfect, and there are certainly some bits that raise a curious eyebrow.
However, even having started watching with mixed expectations, and considering the worst of any shortcomings or faults, I firmly stand by my words of praise. 'Double threat' knows exactly what it is, and revels in the bombastic space it plays in. Everyone involved clearly had a blast making it, and for as outrageously and superbly overdone as it is in many ways, there was real care and sincere heart put into the production to make this swell romp the best it could be. I think that hard work paid off handsomely. I'm positively thrilled that I stumbled upon this movie - I had a fantastic time watching it, and I unreservedly give it my enthusiastic recommendation for anyone who appreciates unrestrained action-comedy nonsense. Yes, it's overblown and often defies good sense - that's exactly the point. I love 'Double threat' and think it's well worth 90 minutes of one's time if you've the opportunity to check it out!
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