Shawn's 21 Review

2008 Movie # 39 - 21

You know I always say that it's the comedies that are the hardest to review. This is pretty much true but a close second to that would be mediocre movies as whole. Unless you really like something or really hate it, it can sometimes be hard to really be at all passionate about something. That's pretty much the main reason why this review, as well as several other ones now, have gone unwritten even though I saw the movies days and days ago. It's that I just don't really have that much to say about them.

I remember watching the documentary on the true story 21 is based upon. It was very interesting to watch and is overall a fantastic story. I had been debating reading the book for quite some time but then after hearing they were making a movie out of it, decided I might as well just wait for it. However, after watching the movie I think I'm now more inclined than ever to read the book. It's a great non-fiction story that this movie hollywood-izes just a little too much.

It's not a bad movie by any means. The story as mentioned is good and it remains interesting throughout the running time. The problem is that it's overall a pretty by the numbers movie with very few surprises along the way. Of course they couldn't just tell the story the way it happened as it wouldn't make for a hollywood movie. They have to add in the love interest, the villian, the twists and turns, and so on. I see what they were going for with all of this, it just tends to bog the movie down in mediocrity.

The performances are across the board quite good. Kate Bosworth does well and is certainly nice to look at. Jim Sturgess (I think that's his name anyway) does fine in the lead, if not just a little on the bland side. Kevin Spacey is of course great and is probably the stand out of the picture. His character is a little over the top but at least brings some much needed energy to an otherwise meh picture. Laurence Fishburne is stuck in a fairly thankless role but does just fine with what little he has to work with.

The film certainly looks good and is very slick. The problem is the old situation of style over substance. They had the material for a really great movie here but instead settled for your average thriller/caper movie.

** 1/2 /5