Today’s quick review: Son of a Gun. To survive in prison, JR (Brenton Thwaites) accepts protection from Brendan (Ewan McGregor) in exchange for future favors. Once JR is released, Brendan’s associate Sam (Jacek Koman) comes to collect. Under Sam’s guidance, JR breaks Brendan out of prison and joins them on their next job: a gold heist worth millions. But JR’s dangerous romance with Sam’s employee Tasha (Alicia Vikander) could ruin everything.
Son of a Gun is a crime drama about a young man roped into a dangerous situation. The film follows JR from his rough days in prison to his criminal career in Brendan’s crew. Son of a Gun features a decent premise, a plot with a few nice twists, and a capable lead in Ewan McGregor. But the film’s acting and writing are just flawed enough to keep it from finishing what it starts. The result is a passable but generic crime flick that never shines.
Son of a Gun’s greatest strength is Ewan McGregor. Brendan nicely skirts the line between loyalty and opportunism, making him the perfect person to lure JR deeper into a life of crime, while McGregor imbues the role with the charisma it needs to succeed. The plot uses Brendan as its keystone, placing him at the center of a risky plan to steal millions in gold. McGregor’s performance the basic skeleton of the plot are what carry the film.
But Son of a Gun’s other lead is something of a weak point. JR makes for an indifferent protagonist: passive, ordinary, and not especially sympathetic. JR gets one or two moments to show his worth, but these are few and far between. Had the movie played up his intelligence, his altruism, or his misgivings about the job, JR might have succeeded. As it stands, he can’t quite carry his side of the movie, limiting Son of a Gun’s payoff.
Those looking for a simple crime movie with a serious tone may want to give Son of a Gun a shot. Its plot, its performances, and its thoughts on loyalty and betrayal are just enough to make it a decent watch. But most viewers will be better off with one of the other entries into the crime genre. For a stylized, comedic take on a similar premise, check out Baby Driver. For others in the same vein, try The Business, American Heist, or The Trust.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for mixed execution.