'The Instigators' Review: Matt Damon and Casey Affleck try their hand at comedy, but no one's laughing
May contain spoilers for 'The Instigators'
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Not gonna lie, I was excited for 'The Instigators' for a couple of reasons. First, I'm a sucker for good heist movies and shows. Seeing Casey Affleck, famous for 'Tower Heist', return in a similar role was an icing on the cake.
Moreover, he pairs alongside Academy Award winner Matt Damon, and with the project being backed by Apple Studios, there was no reason to skip this one.
But maybe we had our hopes a little too high, and the film ended up robbing us of our expectations.
'The Instigators' doesn't instigate rush or even a laugh
Is it even a heist film if it doesn't give a sense of rush even for once? The film revolves around Rory and Cobby, two strangers, enlisted for a dangerous job.
Rory is an ex-marine and a family man, also battling with suicidal thoughts. Cobby, on the other hand, is rather young and an ex-convict.
The job? They have to rob the Mayor. The gang skips the planning stage and heist takes place much before you know it. And soon, our duo lands up in soup, with a dead policeman and an empty bag of cash. They are now on a run to save their lives and also, to get some cash to make it all worth it.
The film had multiple opportunities. From the initial armored van scene, to road chase, to the chaos in mayor's office, there was ample space to add some humor or action. But the repetitive awkward silence turns out to be their best attempt at humor.
The dull tone doesn't do the film any favors, and the makers could have opted for a more vibrant color grading.
Chuck Maclean and Casey Affleck, the writers of the film, have tried to add more depth to the story, by giving a personal backstory to Rory and adding a political angle of a highly corrupt Mayor. Yet, the film fails to fully explore these themes.
Ving Rhames is introduced as Frank Toomey, a formidable cop from Special Ops. Guess what, his presence is as useless as of the main masterminds of the heist, who are eventually lost in the narrative.
How are you feeling?- Disappointed
Hong Chau as Dr Donna Rivera is the only feminine energy in the film. Whether her character was intentionally designed to be annoying or we just need therapy, it's hard to say!
She constantly asks, "How are you feeling?" even when she's playing a hostage or negotiating in the middle of a heist.
"Disappointed," Rory responds at one point and we couldn't agree more. Can Rivera ever stop being a therapist and act normal for once? We have more issues with how her character suddenly has a change of heart, but we won't spoil anything for you.
The therapy sessions honestly remind us of 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' on Amazon Prime, which also grated on our nerves when there were more pressing issues at hand.
In the end, Affleck's character, Cobby, asks Rory if he ever laughs. If you asked us the same question, you'd be disappointed, Mr Affleck.
'The Instigators' is now available to stream on Apple TV+.
