Parenthood is once more on the coronary heart of the plot, resembling it’s, in “Day Shift,” which might simply as simply be titled “Dad: Vampire Slayer.” Foxx performs Bud Jablonski, a bounty hunter (he masquerades as a pool cleaner) struggling to make ends meet financially, instantly given a serious motivation to earn money: His ex (Meagan Good) is planning to maneuver away from Los Angeles with their younger daughter (Zion Broadnax).
Sadly, Bud is on dangerous phrases with the worldwide vampire-hunting union, which assigns a nervous workplace employee, his union rep Seth (Dave Franco), to experience together with Bud and attempt to catch him committing code violations that may permit them to torpedo his profession. That produces numerous banter, bickering and sadly, pants wetting, a pure if low-brow response to the new-to-him prospect of getting killed.
“Day Shift” principally seems to exist for the violent, martial-arts-flavored struggle sequences (these vampires are unexpectedly inclined to getting punched within the face), however after the primary encounter by which Bud dispatches an “outdated girl” who seems to be much more than that, the considerable motion yields diminishing returns.
There’s additionally a disposable villain, Audrey (“Learn how to Get Away With Homicide’s” Karla Souza), an historic vampire who’s sucking up actual property within the San Fernando Valley — an apt metaphor for the Southern California’s dear housing market, maybe, however in any other case fairly ho-hum as such threats go.
Making his directing debut, veteran stuntman J.J. Perry and writers Tyler Tice and Shay Hatten search to unearth laughs and enjoyable the place they will, which incorporates having Snoop Dogg on board as a veteran vampire hunter. However like every little thing else in “Day Shift,” the film has the texture of being made up because it goes alongside in between the struggle scenes, anemically constructing towards a loud, lengthy and tedious climactic showdown.
As famous, Netflix has exhibited a thirst for initiatives with Foxx on the marquee, and “Day Shift” will most likely repay by way of its minutes-viewed standards.
But whereas this type of escapism may yield bottom-line dividends because of the mixture of premise and star, that is the type of lifeless effort the place the prudent recommendation could be to not stop your day jobs.
“Day Shift” premieres Aug. 12 on Netflix. It is rated R.