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Trust Weighted
Good
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83Trust Points
Wick's Review
Summary - Good 3.0
Focus is a decent date movie, especially for fans of con-artist movies and/or Will Smith (and who’s not). More credit eludes it due to tortured plotting, unbelievable happenings and lack of romantic chemistry.
As to that last, I blame Margot Robbie, the gorgeous blonde previously seen as DiCaprio’s trophy wife in The Wolf of Wall Street. She superficially dazzles in supporting roles, but lacks the spark of a true Screen Queen. If Audrey Hepburn in Charade is the perfect standard, and she is, then Robbie is halfway standard.
Bottom Line
Focus overflows with eye-candy: glitzy settings, hot cars, hot women, Will Smith with his shirt off, a lot.
Unfortunately, it stumbles through the turns and underwhelms in the clinches. That’s no con.
Acting - Good 3.0
Will Smith looks marvelous and still possesses superstar charisma. Pity he can’t find worthy projects. Focus isn’t a dud, far from it. In fact, it gets him back on track after last year’s disastrous After Earth. But it’s hardly a classic either.
Margot Robbie also looks marvelous, yet doesn’t posses superstar charisma. Her moviestar career is still young, so maybe she’ll find a project that allows her to shine. Otherwise, a supporting actress she’ll remain.
Supporters
- Adrian Martinez provides some comic relief as a conman with a sharp tongue and weight problem.
- Gerald McRaney is supposed to be crusty and tough, but comes across as merely annoying.
- Rodrigo Santoro looks the part of Latin Formula One team owner.
- BD Wong is amusing as a high roller. Wong is never less than solid.
- Brennan Brown is recognizable yet forgettable as a member of the conman crew.
- Robert Taylor is more sloppy than scary as a fearsome Formula One Team owner.
Male Stars - Great 4.0
Female Stars - Good 3.0
Female Costars - OK 2.5
Male Costars - OK 2.5
Film - Good 3.0
The Sting it’s not. Focus does manage to trick us several times, so that’s good, but never with a delightful con. Nor does it endear its anti-heroes to us as it clearly aspires to do.
It doesn’t stint on flashy settings, including one in New Orleans which scores nicely. After educating a newcomer to their ranks about various pickpocket routines, a crew of thieves works a crowd of revelers for watches, wallets and other booty, all overseen by Will Smith’s supervisory attention from a French Quarter balcony above. If the rest of the film continued with such verve, it may have stolen more hearts.
Direction - Very Good 3.5
Dialogue - Good 3.0
Music - OK 2.5
Visuals - Great 4.0
Edge - Risqué 2.2
Not sure why Focus is rated R. Seems like it should be PG-13.