For all their success and acclaim, it's no surprise that various industries around the world would try to ape the formula established by both Marvel and DC Studios by adapting superheroes into the local cultures. The idea of everyday people being bestowed with special powers or abilities far beyond their own, taking it to the forces of evil and other wrongdoers, has generated profits in the billions around the world for multiple titles which have already seen entries crop up imitating this style of filmmaking. Beating efforts like Indonesia's Gundala to the punch yet only just now finding release is Victor Vu's attempt at igniting the craze in Vietnam with his newly distributed “Head Rush.”
HEAD RUSH Coming to Digital December 27, 2022
After being diagnosed with a deadly disease, struggling comic book artist Tam (Cuong Seven) is convinced by a friend of the family to undergo an experimental procedure to cure his illness and return him to full-health. Once the process has been completed, he and his wife Linh (Tran Thi Nha Phuong) notice that an unintended side-effect from the surgery is an increased set of superhuman capabilities which he initially uses to provide feats of heroism for those around him. But as he tries to get used to his new abilities, Tam has to struggle not only with a further unintended side effect involving memories inherited from the donor for the surgery but with dealing with the ruthless gangsters intent on getting the technology for themselves.
Generally, “Head Rush” has quite a lot to like in this style. One of the better elements here is the setup from writers Doan Nhat Nam, Kay Hgyuyen and director Vu that generates a believable superhero origin story. Introducing Tam as a struggling comic-book artist trying to make ends meet for his family and trying to get a comic book superhero title off the ground while also battling a terminal illness works to bring audience onto his side from the onset. Seeing the virtuousness that he carries throughout the early stages of the film where we see him choose the honorable qualities in life despite his lack of success and untreated illness helps to sympathize Tam so that he remains relatable throughout the movie.
As well, Vu makes sure to pack “Head Rush” with the kind of quality action scenes expected in the genre, which keeps everything exciting and quite thrilling. Reliant on Tam showcasing blinding martial arts speed and dynamic parkour-style abilities more than any kind of genuine supernatural power, the feats accomplished here remain quite reachable in a normal action film involving a person with a pronounced martial arts skillset. With high-energy fight choreography utilizing hand-to-hand skills as well as some accomplished acrobatics through some parkour-fueled chase scenes, the encounters and confrontations are fun enough until we get to the explosive finale. Not content to rely on these still-impressive elements, this provides a motorcycle chase and more gunplay to offset a big brawl to close everything out, giving a lot of positive points overall.
While there's a lot to like here, “Head Rush” does have some minor drawbacks. The main issue at play here is that the surgery that allows Tam to unlock his newfound powers makes very little sense. The trio of writers here have simply set up this scenario involving organ transplanting and body-swapping without going into detail as to how it works. Rather than detailing the process or how he's able to conjure the memories of his original donor, these aspects are just glossed over leaving a key part of the storyline somewhat frustrating. As well, “Head Rush” is also slightly overlong with an unnecessary setup involving the family dynamics which runs on way too long for what it's intended to do and brings a sense of redundancy while also enhancing the running time. These do manage to hold it back somewhat.
An overall highly enjoyable Vietnamese action film, “Head Rush” maintains a lot of likable factors to make it a fun entry in the superhero genre while also working nicely as a straightforward action film. Viewers who appreciate either of those styles will find an entertaining enough movie here.
