Jessica Alba, a familiar face in the action genre, makes a comeback in the Netflix movie 'Trigger Warning,' directed by Moulya Surya. The film's script, crafted by John D. Brancato, Josh Olson, and Halley Wegryn Gross, introduces Alba as Parker, a Special Forces commando on active duty overseas. She is summoned back to her hometown with the heart-wrenching news of her father's sudden demise.
Now the proprietor of the family bar, Parker reconnects with her former boyfriend-turned-sheriff, Jesse (Mark Webber), his hot-tempered brother, Elvis (Jake Weary), and their influential father, Senator Swann (Anthony Michael Hall), as she embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind her father's death. Parker's pursuit for answers takes an unexpected turn, and she soon finds herself in a dangerous game with a violent gang wreaking havoc in her hometown.
With her trust in others wavering, Parker relies on her commando training and demonstrates her mettle as she pursues the truth and strives to rectify the chaos in Swann County, with the assistance of her covert ops partner and hacker, Spider (Tone Bell), and connected local dealer, Mike (Gabriel Basso).
The film serves as the fourth in director Moulya Surya's filmography despite a strong start with our lead character on a deployment. Alba has adequate chemistry with Tone Bell and shows impressive hand-to-hand combat and weaponry skills. However, when Parker makes her way home, the film fails to follow suit.
Sans Bell and Alba, the rest of the characters remain one-dimensional and fail to evoke genuine emotional investment. Mark Webber, Anthony Michael Hall, and Jake Weary's efforts as supporting characters fall short of salvaging the shallow character development present throughout the film. A slight spoiler of the previously mentioned actors who turn out to be in cahoots with everyone is about as menacing as a gummy bear.
Furthermore, despite some well-executed action, the frenetic pace of the plot only kept me momentarily entertained, as I often found myself looking at my smartphone. The storyline is burdened by predictability and a reliance on tired tropes. "Trigger Warning" offers little in terms of originality, leaving viewers craving a more innovative and engaging narrative.
I've come to realize that Netflix's original content can be hit or miss. Personally, I've always enjoyed female-led action films. Jessica Alba proved herself as a butt-kicking heroine over two decades ago in the Fox series Dark Angel. Sadly, "Trigger Warning," the film, falls into the miss
category.
Final Grade: D+
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