“Crime 101”
Rated: R
“See it, Stream it, Skip it” is a movie review column giving readers spoiler-free reviews of new box office films and reporting back on whether readers should see it now, wait until it comes to streaming services or skip it altogether.
Plot Summary: Master thief Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth) teams up with an insurance broker (Halle Berry) to steal $11 million in jewels and cash, while Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) tries to foil their plan and finally pin Davis for his string of “perfect” heists that have vexed the detective for years.
Review: “Crime 101” is somehow simultaneously remarkable and very, very unremarkable. What seemed like a home-run classic from the trailer didn’t exactly fizzle out on the big screen, but my socks surely weren’t knocked off.
Still, it was pretty good. “Crime 101”’s strongest feature is a star studded cast, all of whom play their roles to perfection in a heavily character-driven story.
Mark Ruffalo plays the sad, middle-age divorcee detective well, even if the very character is so stereotypical, it almost warrants an eyeroll.
Halle Berry serves as the audience stand-in—a nobody who happens to get involved with their heist because she hates her sleazy insurance sales boss and wants to get back at society for undervaluing her.
Both Berry and Ruffalo play down-on-their-luck every-day people well. It’s refreshing to see people that are so successful acting like a regular sad and broke “joe shmoe” like me, even if it is just for the silver screen.
The real highlight is Hemsworth’s performance as the brooding Mike Davis. Hemsworth delivers a nuanced take on a pretty average man, (who just so happens to be an incredible thief.)
Even though his character is pretty boring, it’s an interesting look into a complicated soul, one you can’t help both relate to and feel sorry for.
Outside of the phenomenal main characters, “Crime 101” doesn’t have anything that really makes it a “must-watch” movie, nor is it that unique from other heist movies.
The most disappointing note about “Crime 101” is the lack of involvement from Berry’s character in the second half of the film. The trailer makes “Crime 101” seem like Berry is just as involved in the heist as Hemsworth.
Yet, when it came time for the third act of the movie, her role was marginal. The trailer could be pretty misleading and could make audiences think they are tuning in for a buddy-heist movie, when the story is really focused on Hemsworth, with glimpses of Ruffalo and Berry.
Additionally, the movie must have saved all its good character writing for the main three, because everyone else kind of sucks.
Side characters like the store owner Hemsworth robs to open the mov- ie, and Ruffalo’s detective partner appears and seemingly starts their own side-plots, before getting dropped off the face of the earth with no explanation.
It feels weird that a movie could excel so well with some characters, and completely fumble others,
especially considering “Crime 101” is based off a novela, so they had prior material to work off of.
“Crime 101” was a fun film to watch. I really resonated with the main characters and overall liked the direction of the film. But, it’s just alright.
If you see it in the theater, you won’t be disappointed. But with a loaded March movie slate ahead, I’d recommend you just save your money.
FINAL VERDICT:
STREAM IT:
3.0/5.0 “ethically”
heisted jewels.
