Written & Directed By: Shawn Simmons
Cinematography: Tim Ives
Editor: Chris Patterson and Dirk Westervelt
Cast: Samara Weaving, Karl Glusman, Andy Garcia, Steve Zahn, Marshawn Lynch, Jermaine Fowler, Mike O’Malley, Randall Park, Chris Bauer
A reformed teenage getaway driver is dragged back into her unsavory past when a former employer offers her a chance to save the life of her chronically unreliable ex-boyfriend.
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This film comes so close, but no cigar as it does play out like an Elmore Leonard story or novel. As it has the gritty details, the quirky characters and the down on their luck protagonist.
It also has a story that is set in the underworld of crime and a high story that doesn’t overreach and make it seem like this is the score of the century or will set everyone up for life but more just a simple heist that will help all involved get out of previous trouble and be financially lucrative .
Even though it is mainly a crime story, it does take its time to be a character piece for the main character played by Samara weaving and explain her character’s choices, upbringing, and mentality, which helps, especially when she is essentially in love with a screwup
The film has a great cast, but that is the problem while the quirky supporting character shine. We don’t really ever get enough time with them to learn maybe how they tick or just to enjoy them in general. It’s longer than blink and you miss them, but still not quite enough
Even Marshawn Lynch, who is usually comedic gold in movies here has the chance to create such an iconic character, and while he does, what is necessary, his impact isn’t felt the way that it should nor strong as it should. It feels here more like he scripted rather than where his strength is an improv.
Samara weaving as the lead is more of the straight woman, whereas she surrounded by all these crazy quirky characters so she lies at the heart of the film, and obviously the protagonist were rooting for .
The film stays surprising throughout as well as engaging with a surprisingly strong and down, tried ending of sorts, though it feels like there’s something missing to push it quite over the top to passable.
As it is a film, that is entertaining enough, but not quite not worthy to play with the others in its genre. It comes across his lightweight, even though it does have some heavy material. Maybe it’s just because of the story that it tells you want it to be stronger.
Even with it quirky characters it’s surprisingly violent and hard hitting, but it still doesn’t quite make it to Mark
As the film does have the juice and the ingredients and even the recipe, but the taste isn’t quite uproot or tastes fine but not quite special as you had hoped. No matter how it tries.
Grade: C
Cut To The Chase 