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| 'never a tense heist movie, a buddy comedy or an oddball romance, despite dipping its toes in to the water of all three' |
An inglorious void of a film, Henry's Crime proves the theory that it is better by far to be offensively bad than it is to be offensively bland, the former at least providing ample discussion opportunity, where Malcolm Venville's film provides a mere morsel.
Somehow gaining a 15 certificate in the UK, Venville's film does little to deserve it. There's little blood, little language, no 'sustained threat' or malice. Little of note at all actually. The weak premise - an ex-con, who did not commit the crime he was imprisoned for, goes back to commit the crime - is never fleshed out by the director into something satisfying; it is never a tense heist movie, a buddy comedy or an oddball romance, despite dipping its toes in to the water of all three.
Like dipping your toes in water - think paddling at the beach - Henry's Crime is a film where the promise far outweighs the ultimate experience. Keanu Reeves as the ex-con, joined by James Caan as his reluctant sidekick, Vera Farmiga as the love interest, Peter Stormare as an officious theatre director. The players provide false hope. Reeves is flat, Caan is uninterested, - supposedly a master wordsmith but never one that builds up the energy to do so - Farmiga's character veers all over the place, Stormare provides hints of delicious relief. It's the most tedious, un-interesting, ensemble ever assembled.
The script bears the names of Sacha Gervasi and David N. White and the biggest film either of the duo can claim involvement with is The Terminal, to which this has a maudlin similarity, for those looking for through lines. Unlike that though, this has no edge, no humour, no heart and no warmth. It is potentially the dullest heist movie in history which, really, should be an impossible oxymoron.
Look further...
'a wholly competent, entertaining little movie' - Film Forager, 3.5/5
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