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| Courtesy of Warner Bros. |
Instead, director Gary Ross (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Olivia Milch), takes things down a few hundred notches and crafts a fun, breezy hangout film with barely any tension. Sure, the characters claim there’s danger everywhere, but – like the George Clooney versions – there’s never any doubt the team will accomplish its goal. That might seem counterproductive, but the entertainment comes from watching smart people do their jobs so perfectly that everything comes off without a hitch.
There are a couple of unanticipated hurdles here and there, but characters clear them with ease. The screenplay also tries to throw in a couple of twists, but only the most naive viewers will be surprised by them. That’s okay, though – it’s still a blast to watch the plan work smoothly.
Recently paroled after nearly six years in prison, Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) jumps right back into the family business – planning giant heists with massive payoffs. She reconnects with her best friend Lou (Cate Blanchett) and begins putting together a team (including Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson and Awkwafina) to steal a $150 million dollar necklace during New York City’s most prestigious event – the Met Gala.
Their unwitting accomplice is a spoiled actress (the hilarious Anne Hathaway, stealing the entire movie with a brilliant parody of her unjustified public persona) who wants to be the center of attention at the Gala, so she agrees to wear the necklace to make that happen. So how is the crew supposed to steal a necklace that everyone is staring at? It’s all part of Debbie’s plan, years in the making.
Ross is clearly having a blast playing in Steven Soderbergh’s sandbox (the former franchise director is onboard as an executive producer) after making heavier fare like Free State of Jones and The Hunger Games. I also appreciated how he clearly went to great lengths to ensure this movie had the same tone, music, technical flourishes, etc. as its predecessors, so it looks like they all exist in the same world.
The cast appears to be enjoying themselves just as much. Hathaway’s the clear standout, but I also liked the rapport between Bullock and Blanchett. Although I wish Blanchett had more to do than just stand around and look cool, that’s basically all Brad Pitt – her character’s closest counterpart in the previous movies – did too.
The rest of the ensemble is fun as well, especially Kaling, Rihanna and Awkwafina (who you’ll be hearing more about when Crazy Rich Asians opens in August). In fact, the only sour casting note is late-night host James Corden, who pops up for an extended cameo near the end but feels jarringly out of place.
Part of me wishes that Bullock, Blanchett, Hathaway and the rest of their absurdly talented co-stars could make an original heist film without a bunch of unnecessary connections to a 17-year-old movie. But I get that name recognition is Hollywood’s top priority at the moment. If shoehorning the flick into a weird Ocean’s cinematic universe is what it takes to get these incredible actresses together, more power to them. The film is exactly what I was expecting and sometimes that’s just what you need.
Ocean’s 8 is rated PG-13 for language, drug use, and some suggestive content.
Grade: B
There are a couple of unanticipated hurdles here and there, but characters clear them with ease. The screenplay also tries to throw in a couple of twists, but only the most naive viewers will be surprised by them. That’s okay, though – it’s still a blast to watch the plan work smoothly.
Recently paroled after nearly six years in prison, Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) jumps right back into the family business – planning giant heists with massive payoffs. She reconnects with her best friend Lou (Cate Blanchett) and begins putting together a team (including Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson and Awkwafina) to steal a $150 million dollar necklace during New York City’s most prestigious event – the Met Gala.
Their unwitting accomplice is a spoiled actress (the hilarious Anne Hathaway, stealing the entire movie with a brilliant parody of her unjustified public persona) who wants to be the center of attention at the Gala, so she agrees to wear the necklace to make that happen. So how is the crew supposed to steal a necklace that everyone is staring at? It’s all part of Debbie’s plan, years in the making.
Ross is clearly having a blast playing in Steven Soderbergh’s sandbox (the former franchise director is onboard as an executive producer) after making heavier fare like Free State of Jones and The Hunger Games. I also appreciated how he clearly went to great lengths to ensure this movie had the same tone, music, technical flourishes, etc. as its predecessors, so it looks like they all exist in the same world.
The cast appears to be enjoying themselves just as much. Hathaway’s the clear standout, but I also liked the rapport between Bullock and Blanchett. Although I wish Blanchett had more to do than just stand around and look cool, that’s basically all Brad Pitt – her character’s closest counterpart in the previous movies – did too.
The rest of the ensemble is fun as well, especially Kaling, Rihanna and Awkwafina (who you’ll be hearing more about when Crazy Rich Asians opens in August). In fact, the only sour casting note is late-night host James Corden, who pops up for an extended cameo near the end but feels jarringly out of place.
Part of me wishes that Bullock, Blanchett, Hathaway and the rest of their absurdly talented co-stars could make an original heist film without a bunch of unnecessary connections to a 17-year-old movie. But I get that name recognition is Hollywood’s top priority at the moment. If shoehorning the flick into a weird Ocean’s cinematic universe is what it takes to get these incredible actresses together, more power to them. The film is exactly what I was expecting and sometimes that’s just what you need.
Ocean’s 8 is rated PG-13 for language, drug use, and some suggestive content.
Grade: B
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