Review of Middle Men (2009) by Aidan H — 27 Feb 2011

While its subject matter is topical, MM's tale of internet pioneers and Russian criminals is made less-than-relevant by its scatter-gun construction and lack of sympathetic characters. With a story arc that flits repetitively between Wilson's home life to his dodgey business partners, MM suffers from the same disease that made Smokin' Aces such a catastrophe; namely character hyperactivity posing as comedy relief.

Luke Wilson's lack of charisma as a leading man is partly to blame and his Goodfellas-lite voice-over narration does little to pace the film. Despite its random displays of flesh and firepower, this muddled and forced parade of mobster cliches and pointless encounters fails to entertain and tells us nothing about the early days of the internet.

Worth a watch but Boogie Nights it ain't.