Review of Focus (2015) by Googolendtimes — 05 Mar 2015
"Focus" hits the ground running with an electrifying first half, then it stumbles and falls hard. The opening in New Orleans is energetic and slick, the pacing is brisk, and the comedy and action is deftly and effectively mixed.
The second half, however, jarringly ventures into thriller territory the film is neither confident nor comfortable in navigating. There are glimmers of brilliance - B.D. Wong's cameo, a scene in a car with a methodical assassin - but the end result of the film is muddled, with far too many twists, loose ends, and anticlimaxes.
Will Smith more than has the requisite charisma for a part such as this, but the film is beneath him and he seems aware of this throughout, which detracts from his performance. Meanwhile, Margot Robbie (who was excellent in "The Wolf of Wall Street") is awkward in an underwritten role, which is more the scriptwriters' faults than hers.
Furthermore, the two seem mismatched and have little-to-no discernible chemistry. This is a misshapen, confused, weak, and generic disappointment of a film which doesn't do justice to its stars or accomplished beginning.
This review of Focus (2015) was written by Googolendtimes on 05 Mar 2015.
Focus has generally received positive reviews.
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