Focus

Starring: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Rodrigo Santoro, Adrian Martinez, Gerald McRaney, B.D. Wong, Brennan Brown
Directed by: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
2015

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A con man (Will Smith) is thrown a curve ball when he reluctantly teams with a beautiful woman (Margot Robbie) determined to break into the business.

Review:

Tim: Focus is one of those movies that holds your attention throughout, is entertaining, exciting, and yet, when the film ends, it somehow feels as if the whole is slightly less than the sum of its parts. Now, I enjoyed Focus- I'd consider this a solid film and one I would recommend. I was a little puzzled as the movie ended, because even though I couldn't point to any fatal flaws, I was surprised I didn't like it more than I did. On the surface, this movie has a ton going for it. Underneath the outer layer, there are a few hiccups that hold it back.

First, though, the idea of casting Will Smith and Margot Robbie as two con artists was a brilliant move. They have real chemistry together and are fun to watch. They both have this underlying sense of intelligence that was required for the role. Smith, although having not done much in recent years, is still one of the biggest stars in the world and Robbie is shooting to stardom after her role in The Wolf of Wall Street. Add those two together with some sparkling dialogue and a sense that you can't really trust anything that you see, and there's a lot of positive elements in this movie already. I did legitimately have fun watching the film and always wondering, "Is this real, or part of a con?" There were parts that I thought were fake that were authentic and a few times where the movie fooled me, as the events were part of a con. It's great fun when a movie keeps you off balance. That was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the film for me.

I thought the dialogue was very well written. Co-writers and co-directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa did a very good job with the script and behind the camera. The initial meeting between Smith and Robbie was great with lines like the ones about being a serial killer and the "This might be the roofies talking, but I'm having fun!" The dialogue was crisp and engaging and is more intelligent than the usual film. It's a big strength for this movie.

So, with so much enjoyable about Focus, why didn't I like it more? It's an interesting question because there aren't a ton of surface flaws that are obvious. As you dig deeper, one of the complaints I had is that there doesn't seem to be much forward momentum of the story. Yes, character development is important. Yes, it's fun seeing these characters interact with the snazzy dialogue. And yet, over half the movie passes by and very little happens. New Orleans featured some impressive pickpocket scenes, but it didn't move things forward enough. Then, most of the supporting cast disappears for an odd "Super Bowl" scene (B.D. Wong was incredible there). That scene is incredibly cool, but it feels like it keeps our characters standing still, not moving forward. Things abruptly end and then 3 years go by. At that point, it feels like the movie starts to "be" about something, but it felt a little too late. It was almost as if the movie got so wrapped up in the coolness of exploring the world of con artists that it forgot to tell a thoroughly compelling story that featured momentum and progress. That's probably my biggest complaint about the movie.

When I think about Focus, it's certainly a cool movie. It's flashy and fun. It's a movie that I would recommend. However, I don't think it will hold up to repeat viewings. It's fun but doesn't have quite enough substance. It feels like a movie that doesn't have a lot of staying power in our minds. So, while I had fun with it and enjoyed it, it ultimately doesn't do enough to be considered a great film.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Wolf of Wall Street, Ocean's Eleven, Hancock