Masterminds, the title itself is laced with a hint of humour, as they are anything but. It’s even more amusing that this is based on a true story, so perhaps we can lend credence to the phrase “you just can’t make this stuff up”.
A guard at an armoured car company in the Southern United States becomes part of one of the biggest bank heists in American history. Based on the October 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery, you actually have to see this to believe it.
With the comedic musings of characters Jandice (Kate McKinnon – Ghostbusters, The Angry Birds Movie), Kelly (Kristen Wiig – Despicable Me 2, The Martian), David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis), Mike McKinney (Jason Sudeikis – We’re The Millers, Mother’s Day), Steve (Owen Wilson – Zoolander 2, Free Birds) and Agent Scanlon (Leslie Jones), we are treated to a never ending barrage of spot on comedic timing, great acting, and some eye rolling stupidity as the heist is planned, executed in what can only be described at bumbling luck, and of course the inevitable chase, as the law tries to nab the perpetrators.
Masterminds is sure not to leave any viewer lost while following the plot. Rather, instead of trying to predict anything, just go with the flow. It seems that’s what the characters did, in their own special way, although it’s a little hard to believe that some special moments actually took place, perhaps this is a window in to the world of someone special, where their next action could be anything crazy.
The film is funny, it’s a great entertaining escape, and requires only as much thought power as the characters must have put in to their own plans (which isn’t very much). It’s a funny indulgence, and although none of the humour or jokes are very high level, it does feel that some of these are lost due to the lack of subtitles in a few scenes. Whether this was an artistic choice, or a technical film error, remains to be seen, but it does cause the expected laughter to grind to a halt, momentarily.
Great acting, a surprisingly engrossing story, Masterminds is a silly escape, and some lighthearted comedy. Masterminds opens 14 October 2016 in South African cinemas.
