Parenthood is once again at the heart of the plot, this kind of as it is, in “Working day Change,” which could just as simply be titled “Father: Vampire Slayer.” Foxx plays Bud Jablonski, a bounty hunter (he masquerades as a pool cleaner) having difficulties to make ends meet up with economically, instantly presented a important determination to gain money: His ex (Meagan Very good) is arranging to go absent from Los Angeles with their young daughter (Zion Broadnax).
Regretably, Bud is on poor phrases with the worldwide vampire-looking union, which assigns a anxious business office employee, his union rep Seth (Dave Franco), to experience along with Bud and check out to capture him committing code violations that will make it possible for them to torpedo his vocation. That provides plenty of banter, bickering and sad to say, trousers wetting, a natural if minimal-brow response to the new-to-him prospect of having killed.
“Day Shift” mostly seems to exist for the violent, martial-arts-flavored combat sequences (these vampires are unexpectedly susceptible to obtaining punched in the confront), but soon after the very first come upon in which Bud dispatches an “old lady” who turns out to be a ton a lot more than that, the plentiful action yields diminishing returns.
You will find also a disposable villain, Audrey (“How to Get Absent With Murder’s” Karla Souza), an historical vampire who is sucking up authentic estate in the San Fernando Valley — an apt metaphor for the Southern California’s pricey housing sector, possibly, but if not pretty ho-hum as these threats go.
Making his directing debut, veteran stuntman J.J. Perry and writers Tyler Tice and Shay Hatten seek out to unearth laughs and exciting wherever they can, which contains acquiring Snoop Dogg on board as a veteran vampire hunter. But like all the things else in “Working day Change,” the film has the really feel of becoming produced up as it goes along in amongst the battle scenes, anemically developing toward a loud, extended and cumbersome climactic showdown.
As observed, Netflix has exhibited a thirst for jobs with Foxx on the marquee, and “Working day Change” will most likely pay back off in phrases of its minutes-considered criteria.
Nevertheless although this variety of escapism could possibly yield base-line dividends many thanks to the combination of premise and star, this is the kind of lifeless effort the place the prudent tips would be not to quit your day work.
“Day Change” premieres Aug. 12 on Netflix. It can be rated R.
