This weekend saw the debut of an unlikely action hero on Netflix in Lou, played by the wonderful Allison Janney. Janney is not the first thought of an actor in a lead role of an action movie, and yet she works extremely well.

According to IMDB, “A massive storm rages. A young girl is kidnapped. Her mother, with no other option, teams up with the mysterious older woman next door to pursue the kidnapper a journey into the wilderness that will test their limits and expose dark and shocking secrets from their pasts.”

Is the film filled with a few coincidences? Sure. Is the story a little convoluted? Yes. And yet there is a definite appeal to it and there is enough tension that should keep the viewers engaged, and everything does make sense at the end.

The standout is, of course, Allison Janney. The Oscar and multiple time Emmy winner never gives a bad performance and is one of those performers who can take a so so script and make it better just by her work. As Lou, Janney is very stoic, but you can tell that she is not one to be messed with. While some of the beats of the story felt a touch forced, Janney made them all work.

The young mother, Hannah, is played by Jurnee Smollett with passion and energy. She brings a nice counter-balance to Lou that works here as well. I accept that she is a desperate mother trying to find her kidnapped daughter Vee (Ridley Asha Bateman). Bateman has a screen presence as well as she does a fine job opposite some powerful actors.

Lou is a solid Netflix film that is a decent watch and moves quickly. Strong performances and some tense moments make Lou an enjoyable time.

3.75 stars