Today’s quick review: 21. Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), an MIT senior, needs $300,000 to attend Harvard Medical School. His prayers are answered when he catches the attention of Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey), a mathematics professor who runs a secret club of student card counters. But as Ben finds success in Vegas, he grows distant from his friends and risks losing himself to his newfound riches.
21 is a light crime drama with heist elements. 21 is a movie with a good core plot, decent acting, and pacing issues. Mickey uses his brightest students to run a card counting system capable of clearing six figures from the blackjack tables in one trip to Las Vegas. Their activities are not illegal, but the risk of getting caught is high and professionalism is a much. However, the film spends too much time on setup and gambling montages, causing it to drag in places.
Kevin Spacey is the high point of the movie, bringing his considerable acting talent to the role of Ben’s sharp but predatory card counting coach. His part is limited to a few key sections of the moive, though, and the focus is on Jim Sturgess. Sturgess straddles the line between dorky and charming, lacking the edge to pull off the hustler half of his persona but remaining a pleasant enough protagonist to follow.
Watch 21 if you are interested in a low-key approach to the heist genre. The stakes are lower and nothing is stolen, but the vibe is the same. The film makes a few pacing errors and the characters could be stronger, but 21 is still a decent watch when the right mood strikes you. Skip it if you prefer an actual heist film or crime drama.
6.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a good premise with decent execution.