Review of Criminal (2016) by Michael J — 26 Jul 2016

Despite the fact that Kevin Costner gives it his snarling best (and clearly has a ball doing it) Criminal is mostly a laughable mess. All of the CIA spy tech on display is so common place in films like this now that even the individuals at their controls seem bored.

Ryan Reynolds is barely an afterthought as agent Bill Pope, Gary Oldman plays a barking CIA head honcho, and Tommy Lee Jones is a brilliant doctor who has developed this mighty convenient memory transfer procedure.

Costner's character, Jericho Stewart, is a stark raving mad sociopath, you know.. an ideal candidate who'm you would want to receive the special skill sets of a CIA operative. There are a handful of strong moments thanks primarily to Costner's presence, but much of what transpires is tedious and ludicrous.

If you like violence there is quite a bit of it, and honestly it's one of the film's only saving graces. When Criminal slows down and attempts to pull on our heart strings it becomes almost unbearable.

The late agent Bill Pope's wife and daughter are way too easily taken with a complete stranger who shows up and claims that Billy's memories are inside of his head, in no time at all the little girl "Emma" is holding Jericho's hand and teaching him to play piano.

Criminal's illogical plot gaps are as abundant as the expletives, and it's ending is so stupid that wonder if maybe you missed something. I will say that I am happy to see Kevin Costner back in a starring role.