Pretty Lethal is fun but forgettable. So it barely scrapes by. It’s definitely a movie that belongs on streaming rather than a theater run.
Pretty Lethal is a fun premise. However, some of the humor falls flat, and parts of the film lack purpose; the overall action and conflict can hold the audience’s attention. But it’s unlikely to remain in their memory. However, as something to watch at home, it’s passable. Plus, some of those ballet moves in combat look amazing. Who knew pirouettes could be so perilous? It’s a fluff film that lacks substance. But if you’re on the ride for goofy conversations and some decent action centered around a dance troupe that must learn to dance as a unit, Pretty Lethal might be for you.
Vicky Jewson (Close, The Witcher: Blood Origin) directs a screenplay penned by Kate Freund (Afterlife, Legend of the White Tiger), and it stars a 5-member ballet group that winds up fighting for their lives in another country. Among the bickering group are two particular rivals, Bones, played by Maddie Ziegler (My Old Ass, The Fallout), and Princess, played by Lana Condor of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before fame.
Their names convey a basic impression of their characters, with Bones being the talented, poor, and gritty girl, and Princess being the whiny, entitled prima donna. But on the way to a competition, their bus breaks down, and they make a regrettable trek to the nearest remote inn. The inn, aside from its criminal undercurrent, has a former ballerina at the helm, Devora Kasimer, played by Uma Thurman (Kill Bill Vol. 1, The Old Guard 2).
Pretty Lethal Has Fun Action, But Little Else
The action is, for the most part, entertaining. With the incorporation of ballet moves, there’s an additional layer of surprise. In particular, I love the box-cutter on the ballet shoes. But there’s also a current trend in many action films that gives a “soft serve” look to the action. It’s where the performance, particularly the expressions, convey the difficulty or pain, but the action looks and sounds gentle.
A similar example is when movies or series show someone running, and their entire body conveys desperation and urgency, but they move like they’re jogging on a treadmill to get their steps in. In action movies, it detracts from the stakes. Despite that, Pretty Lethal includes surprising action set pieces.
Script Lacks Depth, Although Performances Help Elevate the Story
Much of the film is shallow. Conflicts between characters have the bare bones of depth. They try for emotional moments, and while the performances do create a sense of urgency and connection with audiences, too much works against it having any longevity. Uma Thurman tries her best with her character Devora. But this film does not give her much. While it’s always fun to watch the ladies raise hell against men, it struggles to make the backstory for Devora meaningful.
Even the sister ballerinas, Chloe, played by Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place, Close Up), and Zoe, played by Iris Apatow (Young Werther, The Bubble), are more like shallow friends because of how the script has them engage with each other. When the situation spirals, there is no indication that Zoe is concerned for her sister. The last ballerina, Grace, played by Avantika (Champion, Tarot), builds some of the comedy along with Lana Condor’s character.
Pretty Lethal is fun but forgettable. So it barely scrapes by. It’s definitely a movie that belongs on streaming rather than a theater run. There are bright moments of action and comedy, but it also feels soulless, with nothing deeper beyond entertainment. With the performances and action, Pretty Lethal delivers a surprising kick of amusement, even if the memory of it fades once you play something else.
