Honest Thief - Honestly Fine

 

Rent it on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube. 

    I have mentioned many times before that January is typically the worst time to see new movies. Mainly because it’s the end of the Holidays, and people are less likely to spend whatever finances they have left on a movie ticket, or in this case, a $20 new release rental. However, even though Hollywood is well aware of this, they can’t simply "not" put out any new products merely because few people are expected to pay for them. As such, January and early February are typically reserved for movies that the studio system has no faith in doing well at all. Be it from a lack of confidence or a contractual obligation. This, incidentally, is the only reason the abysmal atrocity known as Norm of the North was given a wide theatrical release back in 2015. It wasn’t because of popular demand or artistic integrity, but because it was a pre-requisite as part of a multi-picture deal with the distributor. 

    With that in mind, you would be forgiven for assuming that today's subject, Honest Thief, was a complete waste of time. And while it is not in any way a terrific film, it is, at the very least, watchable for the most part. It may not necessarily be worth the asking price, but it’s a decent option if all others are unavailable. 

    The story follows an experienced bank robber named Tom (Liam Neeson), who has stolen roughly nine million dollars over the course of his career as a thief. One day, he meets a woman named Annie (Kate Walsh) and falls in love. After dating for a year, Tom decides that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her but wants to do it the right way. So, he sets up a plan to turn himself in and return the money in exchange for leniency and a reduced sentence. However, things take a complex turn when the two FBI agents assigned to his case decide to frame Tom for murder and try to take the money for themselves. Thus begins a game of cat & mouse between two corrupt federal agents and Tom, who will stop at nothing to clear his name, protect his love, and turn a new leaf. 

    For the most part, the film is competently made. Save for a few spots of questionable writing, the script is fairly well constructed. The characters are rounded and likable, the plot flows at a decent pace, and the conflicts are engaging and relatable. The movie is a pleasant enough distraction for a lazy afternoon, combined with decent performances and adequate action scenes. 

    Where the film falls short is, as mentioned earlier, the spots of questionable writing. Parts of the story reek of plot convenience and don’t measure up to the story's overall quality. Without spoiling anything, a prime example is how Tom decides to prove his story to the feds. For a man as clever and thorough as Tom, you would think that he wouldn’t do something as stupid as what he does. 

    That aside, the film as a whole is alright, but I would not say it’s worth the $20 admission fee. If you’re curious enough and have already exhausted all other options at present, this is an alright piece of entertainment. Otherwise, I recommend waiting for the price to drop and checking out something else. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.