JASON EVANS' 100-WORD REVIEWS: The Hustle

Courtesy of MGM

The great American humorist Josh Billings once said, “There's a great power in words, if you don't hitch too many of them together.” Atlanta film critic Jason Evans is taking that to heart as he embarks on an effort to review films in 100 words. His reviews will include a brief, spoiler-free synopsis and then exactly 100 words talking about the quality of the movie and whether you should spend your time and money on it. Today’s entry, The Hustle.

The Premise: In 1988, filmmaker Frank Oz cast Steve Martin and Michael Caine in a film called Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. It was universally loved and Caine even got a Golden Globe nomination. 31 years later, it has been remade with women in the lead roles as The Hustle, starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect).

The Hustle is a slapstick comedy about two con artists - one sloppy and low brow, the other refined and elegant - who develop a rivalry while scamming lonely men who travel to the French Riviera. They end up making a “loser must leave town” bet as they both try to con the same man.

The 100 Words: A carbon copy of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels but without any of the charm, charisma, or cleverness that made that film so wonderful. The copycat story contains not a single surprise or update to the 1988 version. The characters are extremely unlikable, especially Hathaway’s snooty aristocrat, so it would take a deft tough to make either of them sympathetic. Sadly, neither lead is up to that task. The worst part is, it simply isn’t funny. The movie confuses crude with clever, including some very offensive lesbian jokes. Skip this one and watch the delightful Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (on Amazon Prime) instead.