Movie Review: Day Shift | Pittsburgh Magazine

When a film has a mix of admirable and regrettable qualities, an sudden issue can tip it into worthwhile territory.

On this case: Snoop Dogg. Snoop Dogg is implausible in “Day Shift.”

Outdoors of his presence, “Day Shift” is a combined bag of a vampire flick. The Netflix unique, from longtime stunt coordinator and battle choreographer J.J. Perry, follows an undercover vampire hunter (Jamie Foxx) as he contends with hoards of undead foes — in addition to an amusing vampire-management forms, which foists an inexperienced handler (Dave Franco) upon him.

These scenes are fairly darn partaking; surprisingly, I used to be most when the motion turned to a colorless workplace the place fangs are turned in for credit score and mid-level administration quibbles over vampire disposal techniques. The fights, unsurprisingly, additionally work; Perry’s prior expertise has taught him tips on how to make a brawl intriguing and, simply as importantly, how to ensure we are able to see it.

Alternatively, the script — from Tyler Tice and Shay Hatten — is a large number of pointless detours and unmotivated exposition. Extraneous characters are launched, prolonged discussions of vampire lore are unloaded, and cliches fly like a swarm of bats. (No precise bats on this one, come to think about it.) Most concerningly, a film with seven competing plot threads turns swiftly into the laziest story possible: The vampires kidnap our hero’s spouse and daughter, and he goes to get them again.

It’s a film in steadiness, then; some good things, some huge drawbacks. After which: Snoop Dogg.

The gangster-rap forefather, who beforehand displayed his affinity for the supernatural within the ’90s thriller “Bones,” is extra dedicated to this mission than anybody else on set; Foxx doesn’t have half the curiosity in “Day Shift” that Dogg does. He turns up for key scenes as a cowboy-influenced veteran vampire slayer; each line is plausible and some are stirring. When he lastly will get round to dispatching the undead, you’ll be satisfied you’re watching a great film.

My Score: 6/10

“Day Shift” is now streaming on Netflix.