Directed By: Tom Kingsley
Written By: Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow, Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen
Cinematography: Will Hanke
Editor: Mark Williams
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammad, Paddy Considine, Ian McShane, Sean Bean, Sonoya Mizuno, Freya Parker, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen
Three improv actors are asked to go undercover by the police in London’s criminal underworld.
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Unfortunately, not a remake or in any way asscisiyed with the Lawrence Fishburne Starring, crime classic film, but rather an wannabe, original action comedy
Is this is a movie that is very random. Whereas it’s randomly cast, and it shouldn’t work, even though it has a high concept, but strangely it does work and even comes off with its own little charm.
I don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing deep about this film. It’s pretty standard, but it stays in the middle of the road enough that it keeps you laughing and caring and even has some impressive action at times
As the film goes along, it tries to stay unpredictable that it fails in that way, though it does base itself on everyone having such deep trust in these characters, even when it’s obvious, they are in over their heads
Not only is the premise a little bit inventive of having improv actors volunteer to go undercover and kind of getting stuck in their roles as the danger increases, but it also serves as a kind of midlife crisis movie as the characters are all facing dilemmas of where they thought they’d be and where they actually are And aiming to do something different to not only get better, but find some meaning in it all.
The most interesting character is Shosh played by Sonoya Mizuno, who seems like she’d be a good bodyguard or assassin character in a better film, but also comes across as the coolest character of the whole film. She is always a chameleon in her roles. Never seeming to play the same type twice.
Bryce Dallas Howard surprises with her performance in the lead as a comedic actress where you wonder why she isn’t in more films such as these as she is clearly strong in the lead role, though it might be as there’s so much competition and she fits into the same looks and frame as so, many Caucasian leading ladies. It’s hard enough to get the roles but also, where do you quite fit
The film has surprisingly a lot of European acting heavyweights who we have seen play these types of characters before only here a bit more broad, not as intimidating and all clearly hear more for a paycheck than anything else, but they do add to the tapestry and try to add some heaviness and believability to the situations the characters find themselves interacting with them
The only complaint could be that one wishes the film was bigger, but then that would totally go against the reality of it and wish that the romantic sub plot had a bit more to it or a kind of ending to it instead of just being upsurped and left
Grade: C+
Cut To The Chase 