9/4/17 – Logan Lucky (2017) – 6/10

Even a poor man’s Ocean’s 11 is still a pretty solid outing. Most every element is stifled from its loud spiritual predecessor. The characters are subdued caricatures, the schemes miniaturized, and the triumphs are quiet emotional exhalations rather than verbose and smug ejaculations of righteousness. All of this is not indicative of lesser quality. Logan is humorous and ingenious, but not to the height of Ocean’s. The stakes are inferior, the plot a tad less tight with some dangling strands, the hilarity a notch below, and (emotional culmination) just doesn’t hold the heft and satisfaction.

Everyone on screen is solid and tonally faultless. That is except for Seth McFarlane, who is in a completely different film to the rest of the crew, and Hillary Swank, whose entrance, lingering, and mood just feel so off. I can’t speak to the accents that are strewn about, though my impression was one of doubt and possible mocking, but a sense of “being in on the joke” was there too. Craig, Tatum, Keough, and little Farrah Mackenzie keep this film so light, fun, sentimental and enjoyable that it is easy to go along with.

This is an effortless breeze of a heist film, moving quickly and smoothly, but there is a lack of substantiality to the whole thing. It is certainly a good time and worth the watch, with fine execution and the deft skill of a high level film maker. It just won’t linger in my mind or demand a re-watch anytime soon.