The Hotel Artemis is a secret hospital for criminals with its own set of rules. Set in 2028 as a riot is breaking out in Los Angeles a number of different criminals require the Artemis’ services and some of them don’t see eye to eye.

Written and directed by Drew Goddard whose biggest directorial experience so far has been a Marvel one shot (All Hail the King) and with writing credits including Iron Man 3 and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation this is a film bursting with interesting ideas and cool casting. But it never quite achieves the lofty heights it hints at.

With a 94 minute running time the film works very quickly to set up its premise. Opening with a bank robbery that has already gone wrong we are quickly on our way to the Artemis and introduced to all of its characters, who are known in the main by their job or room name. The Nurse (Jodie Foster) has not left her home and place of business for years, Waikiki (Sterling K. Brown) thought he was out of the game yet finds himself back in, Nice (Sofia Boutella) has a previous relationship with Waikiki and is a renowned assassin. And this is to name only 3 of the characters in an ensemble that also features Dave Bautista, Charlie Day, Zachary Quinto and Jeff Goldblum. All of the characters have hints of back stories that tease of a larger world living and breathing in the background.

There are plenty of neat and interesting ideas happening in this world as well. Automated medical technology, nanites, visual implants, a city owned by a crime boss and social unrest caused by the privatisation of clean water.

On paper then, it sounds fantastic. But it never quite clicks. It doesn’t quite have the cool of The Matrix or John Wick, both of which are clearly inspiration for some of its moments. The action sequences never quite materialise and it doesn’t go down the comedy route either. In fact the film it most reminds me of is Smokin’ Aces by Joe Carnahan. Not because of content, but because it’s a feature film by an up and coming film maker filled with great ideas and a superb ensemble cast that doesn’t quite reach greatness.