The Hustle
Director: Chris Addison
Screenplay: Jac Schaeffer, Stanley Shapiro, Paul Henning, Dale Launer
Minutes: 94
Year: 2019
Score: 6.87
Release: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Blu-ray
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I remembered watching a trailer for The Hustle in the theater with my wife and I remembered us laughing and being interested in eventually watching the film. While I am glad to say that this is not an instance in which the trailer had all the funny parts, I don’t think that the film sticks the landing as well as I hoped.
Josephine Chesterfield (Anne Hathaway) is a glamorous, seductive Brit who defrauds gullible wealthy men. Penny (Rebel Wilson) amasses wads of cash by ripping off her marks in neighborhood bars. Despite their different methods, both are masters of the art of the fleece, so they con the men that have wronged women. Wilson’s talent for physicality and Hathaway’s withering wit are a combustible combination as the pair of scammers pull out all the stops to swindle a naïve tech billionaire (Alex Sharp) in this hilarious comedy.
I am probably lucky that I have never watched Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, of which The Hustle is a re-make. Had I seen that film I imagine I might have hated this one. I am pleased to be able to say that Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson have an uncanny amount of chemistry together making for some incredibly funny scenes. The crude humor was right at my level and the french fry scene was perfect.
Unfortunately, the film didn’t really work for me. It was cute and enjoyable, but the few scraps of meat on the bone by the end of the film are rotten by a questionable story beat. Obviously, I cannot go deep into this and must dance around the themes that form this house of cards to avoid ruining anything (though I may threaten to save you). I will just say that it is only one moment that derailed my interest. Now this obstruction of the tracks could be word for word from the source materials, and it could have even been charming in that originator, but in the presentation that is The Hustle it does not work.
While it is not likely that I will be revisiting the film any time soon I will say that if I do it will certainly be to celebrate the performances. I have always known that Anne Hathaway has good comic timing, but the slyness in her performance was next level for her. Before this I have not watched a film with Rebel Wilson, so I only have cursory knowledge of her work, but she did a good job as well.
As I have said, the movie is cute and, for the most part, entertaining. If I was more interested, I may even listen to the commentary, perhaps that will unlock the mystery. The other featurettes add a bit to the experience but aren’t enough to tip this over the edge to make it a classic.
Special Features:
- Hitting the Mark
- Comedy Class
- Con Artists
- Feature Commentary with Director Chris Addison
Director: 6 – Cinematography: 5 – Edit: 4 – Parity: 6 – Main performance: 10 – Else performance: 6 – Score: 9 – Sound: 5 – Story: 4 – Script: 10 – Effects: 5 – Design: 8 – Costumes: 10 – Keeps interest: 10 – Lasting: 5