Review of Ocean's Eight (2018) by Glenn G — 29 Jun 2018

SHE HATHAWAY ABOUT HER - My Review of OCEAN'S 8 (3 Stars).

I totally support the GHOSTBUSTER-izing of Hollywood classics by recasting them with all-female leads in so much that I recognize that sometimes audiences just want to see their favorite stars skipping through a forgettable lark every now and then. So why not give us the distaff versions? Bring on LADY EXPENDABLES...which...upon reflection...sounded better in my head.

I enjoyed the OCEAN movies for their sleekness, star power, and step-by-step heist instructions and OCEAN'S 8, from writer-director Gary Ross (THE HUNGER GAMES, PLEASANTVILLE), who co-wrote the screenplay with Olivia Milch, entertained me as much as the others. It's a smooth, shiny, night out at the movies, no more, no less.

Okay, maybe a little less, as this entertaining trifle could have been shot through with a little more energy, tighter editing, and humor pass with a script rewrite. It settles for glamour and the mechanics of pulling off a heist, losing some much-needed zip along the way.

The film opens on Sandra Bullock's Debbie Ocean (sister to George Clooney's character), incarcerated for years and pretending full rehabilitation at her parole hearing. Once sprung, her intentions crystalize as she pulls together a diamond heist she'd been planning all those years behind bars. As she gathers the troops, which include Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, and Awkwafina (really funny), all of whom get their moments to shine, I couldn't help but think that Bullock, as the anchor, was giving what I call a Bruce Willis performance. Wan, detached, and kind of phoning it in, Bullock appears disengaged, choosing not to mine her delightful strengths that made her a star. It's odd considering this is a film more about star power than anything else.

The heist, however, is everything, and thankfully, it's fun to watch it all come together. Without it, there's no film. They literally plan a robbery of a priceless necklace to be worn at the annual Met Gala, and then they execute that plan. The end. Sure, there are a couple of unexpected twists and turns, but this movie delights in, as the A-Team used to say, "loving it when a plan comes together".

Luckily, this plan includes Anne Hathaway as the unsuspecting star, the hilariously named Daphne Kluger, who our gang manipulate into wearing to the ball. Hathaway demonstrates the best thievery in the film by completely stealing it. Her self-absorbed, sunny on the outside but dead on the inside character somehow manages to make an ensemble comedy all about her, and as an audience, we can't help but love her. Welcome back Anne! We Les Miz'd you!

Despite the overall fun of the film, I noticed some missed opportunities, not only with a lack of strong jokes, but with giving Blanchett, who looks sensational, a little more to chew on, and there's a specific moment begging for Clooney that left me wanting for more. All told, OCEAN'S 8 proves serviceable, highly watchable, yet somewhat lackluster.

Perhaps we've entered a low stakes, high glamour era in Hollywood filmmaking, but somehow the decision to remove the obstacles and just revel in the heist itself works here. Bonus points for Daniel Pemberton's memorable, mid-century style score. This is old Hollywood glitz at its best. Too bad Bullock didn't quite get the memo.