Indeed, Foxx is obviously a favorite of the Netflix algorithm and loves cashing its checks, having starred within the movie “Project Power” and sitcom “Dad Stop Embarrassing Myself! ” in the last two years, the latter inspired and created by his daughter, Corinne Foxx.
Parenthood is again at the heart of the story, such as it is, within “Day Shift, ” which could just as effortlessly be titled “Dad: Vampire Slayer. ” Foxx plays Marijuana Jablonski, a bounty hunter (he masquerades as a pool cleaner) struggling to make ends meet financially, suddenly given a major motivation to earn cash: His ex-mate (Meagan Good) is usually planning to move far from Los Angeles with their younger daughter (Zion Broadnax).
Unfortunately, Bud is upon bad terms with the international vampire-hunting union, which assigns the nervous office employee, his union rep Seth (Dave Franco), to ride together with Bud and try to capture him committing program code violations that will allow these to torpedo his career. That produces lots of banter, bickering plus unfortunately, pants wetting, a natural if low-brow response to the new-to-him prospect of getting murdered.
“Day Shift” mostly seems to exist for the violent, martial-arts-flavored fight sequences (these vampires are unexpectedly susceptible to obtaining punched in the face), but after the 1st encounter in which Bud dispatches an “old lady” who actually is a lot more than that, the particular abundant action produces diminishing returns.
There’s also a disposable villain, Audrey (“How to Get Away With Murder’s” Karla Souza), an ancient vampire who is sucking up real estate in the San Fernando Valley — an apt metaphor for the Southern California’s pricey housing market, perhaps, but otherwise fairly ho-hum as such dangers go.
Making his leading debut, veteran stuntman J. J. Perry and writers Tyler Tice and Shay Hatten seek in order to unearth laughs and fun where they can, which includes having Snoop Dogg on board as a veteran vampire seeker. But like anything else in “Day Change, ” the movie has got the feel of being made up as it goes along in between the combat scenes, anemically building toward a noisy, long and tiresome climactic showdown.
As noted, Netflix has showed a thirst meant for projects with Foxx on the marquee, and “Day Shift” will probably pay off in terms of the minutes-viewed criteria.
Yet could form of escapism may yield bottom-line dividends thanks to the combination of idea and star, this is the sort of lifeless effort where the prudent recommendation would be not to stop your day jobs.
“Day Shift” premieres Aug. 12 on Netflix. It’s rated R.