High Heat review: A fast-paced, non-pretentious action-comedy that makes for a good weekend watch

3.5/5

Story: Ana is a gifted chef with a secret past. When a local mafia boss tries to burn down her newly opened restaurant that she co-owns with her husband Ray, she defends her turf and proves her knife skills both in and out of the kitchen.

Review: High Heat is the kind of movie you want to watch to unwind after a long day or week. It is fast-paced, not melodramatic, packs a punch, and is actually quite funny.

Director Zach Golden’s action comedy that stars Olga Kurylenko, Don Johnson, and Dallas Page takes you by surprise. It starts off as a regular B-grade film but ends up being quite entertaining.

While none of the actors may particularly have any recall value, which might not have you reaching out to press play, they do a good job. One of the things that works for the movie is its pace. There isn’t a scene that is placed just for the heck of it, and there are no characters who seem forced or out of place.

There is nothing extraordinary that the makers have tried as far as the cinematography or the pattern of storytelling go, and that is exactly what works for the film. It is not pretentious and doesn’t try to be stylish or slick.

Ivan Martin does a fine job as Mickey, the not-so-golden son of mafia boss Dom (Dallas Page). While Jackie Long, who plays the masseuse Gary, is responsible for several laugh out loud moments.

Even Kaitlin Doubleday as Ana's vengeful BFF Mimi and her twin daughters, played by Bianca D'Ambrosio and Chiara D'Ambrosio, are entertaining.

Strangely enough, Olga Kurylenko and Don Johnson, who play the lead characters of Ana and Ray — an odd couple who run a restaurant, both with their own secret pasts — are perhaps the least impressive of the star cast. But they are by no means lacking.

Verdict: High Heat was a surprise for me. I have to be honest: I didn’t have high expectations for the film, and perhaps that is what worked best for it. Watch this film for a refreshing break from the other more heavy new releases. It makes for the perfect weekend watch.