Club Benefits
- Rating: 3/5 stars
- Verdict: With a strong group of young heroines at its core, squaring off against a menacing Uma Thurman, "Pretty Lethal" offers no-frills fun. It trades character development and narrative invention for brisk pacing, and one action scene in particular really stands out. However, the lack of substance ultimately makes this action-thriller extremely forgettable.
- Where to watch: "Pretty Lethal' is on Prime Video now
If you felt last year’s John Wick spin-off, “Ballerina,” was lacking actual ballet dancing, then Prime Video has the action-thriller movie for you. “Pretty Lethal” is the streaming service’s latest original effort, and while its predictable narrative and archetypal characters can frustrate, the surprisingly graceful, very bloody action sequences are an enjoyable highlight.
Directed by Vicky Jewson and starring Uma Thurman, alongside a host of young talent, including Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor (“To All the Boys” series), Iris Apatow, Millicent Simmonds (“A Quiet Place”) and Avantika, ("Mean Girls"), “Pretty Lethal” is an energetic movie that keeps things brisk above all else. Sometimes this zippy pacing is a fault, but it does ensure the flick gets right to the point.
In many ways, “Pretty Lethal” serves up a blend of pulpy action-thriller fun that is anything but original. But, there is a pleasing novelty to watching a group of strong females in lacy tutus turn the tables on a group of ruthless gangsters. Here’s what you need to know about this new Prime Video movie.
Article continues belowWhat is ‘Pretty Lethal’ about?
Traveling to Budapest for a prestigious competition, a young ballet troupe finds itself in a dangerous situation when their bus breaks down in rural Romania, and they take shelter at a seedy establishment run by the ruthless, former ballet prodigy, Devora Kasimer (Uma Thurman).
From the start, the plucky group is clearly dysfunctional, with personal dramas and petty squabbles threatening to ruin their chances of finding a harmonious rhythm. However, they are forced to band together when they find themselves caught up in a violent turf war.
To survive an increasingly bloody night, they need to pull together and make use of their unique ballet skills to deliver some butt-kicking of their own. And still look remarkably graceful while dishing out the pain.
‘Pretty Lethal’ is all-action without the filler
“Pretty Lethal” doesn’t make viewers wait for the carnage to unfold. Within 16 minutes, the first gun is fired (and the first murder committed), and from there, the movie never slows down for a breath. This breakneck speed makes it hard to get bored, and the credits arrive after just 80 minutes. It’s a movie that gets to the point fast and neatly wraps up in double quick time.
The trio of five young ballet dancers is a strong-willed gaggle of heroines (and the genre always needs more of those), but they definitely fit into generic archetypes. There’s the “posh” princess (literally called Princess, subtlety is not the movie’s strength), the overly protective sister, the religious one, the adventurous type, and the self-doubting protagonist, whose working-class upbringing puts her at odds in a “rich b***h sport.”
Meanwhile, the villains of the pieces aren’t any less cookie-cutter, a gang of surly Eastern Europeans, led by the exacting Devora. Thurman is doing a pale imitation of Brando and lamenting how she “coulda been a contender” if only given the chance to realize her own youthful ballet dreams.
Where “Pretty Lethal” shines is when it incorporates its ballet hook into its action. At the hour mark, the flick peaks with a three-minute-long brawl set to “The Nutcracker.” The fivesome prance around the room, dispatching foes with high kicks and real elegance. A later sequence in which one of the young cast is tortured by having her toenails removed, only to laugh at what is a common injury for a dedicated ballet performer, is also brilliant.
I wish “Pretty Lethal” had saved up some of this inventive spark for its finale, because after these moments, it speeds headfirst into a rushed conclusion that doesn’t put on a satisfying cap on proceedings. Instead, in the final few minutes, the movie seems desperate to wrap up things as quickly as possible. But maybe that’s a good thing. “Pretty Lethal” clearly has little left in the tank, and dragging things out further would only highlight its flaws.
Should you stream ‘Pretty Lethal’ on Prime Video?
If you’re looking for a streaming movie that offers swift entertainment, “Pretty Lethal” has its merits. It doesn’t have enough substance to deliver anything but disposable thrills, but there is certainly a place in any watchlist for such uncomplicated enjoyment. By focusing on the action and parking character development, “Pretty Lethal” keeps the energy high throughout.
It’s not a Prime Video movie that will live long in the memory, and apart from the aforementioned well-choreographed action scene, there’s little here to rave about. But it’s a competently produced ode to female empowerment. And it celebrates the grace and dedication of highly skilled ballet dancers. Timothée Chalamet might want to give this one a miss…
If you’re looking for more Prime Video watches, here’s a guide to the movies leaving the Amazon-owned platform at the end of the month. Give them a watch while you still can. And check out what's new to Prime Video now.
Watch "Pretty Lethal" on Prime Video now
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