Today’s quick review: The Crew. Bobby Bartellemeo (Richard Dreyfuss), Joey “Bats” Pistella (Burt Reynolds), Tony “Mouth” Donato (Seymour Cassel), and Mike “The Brick” Donatelli (Dan Hedaya) used to be respected gangsters, but now they are only retirees living in Miami Beach. Itching for a taste of their old lifestyle, they decide to stage a fake murder to drive down their rent but accidentally run afoul of drug kingpin Raul Ventana (Miguel Sandoval).
The Crew is a crime comedy about four aging gangsters who get themselves in hot water when they pretend to kill the wrong person. What starts as an easy way to recapture some of their past glory quickly spirals out of control. The Crew takes a look at the pains of perks of aging through the eyes of Bobby and his friends. The movie features a nicely convoluted plot and a light tone, but its jokes and acting leave something to be desired.
The Crew fares the best with its story. The premise gives the movie a fair amount of material to work with, and the movie has a knack for coming up with unexpected consequences for its characters’ actions. The result is a caper-like plot that expands in scope as it goes along, eventually involving an untrustworthy stripper (Jennifer Tilly), her rich stepmother (Lainie Kazan), and a pair of Miami detectives (Carrie Anne-Moss and Jeremy Piven).
However, The Crew doesn’t have the comedic skill to capitalize on its creativity. The humor never quite hits its stride, relying on the relatively tame antics of Bobby and his friends for most of its laughs. The situations it comes up with are funny enough on their own to pick up some of the slack, but they can only take the movie so far. Likewise, the characters bring some energy to the film, but they aren’t the dynamos The Crew needs them to be.
The Crew is worth a watch if you’re in the mood for a caper and don’t care too much about polish. The movie’s clever ideas give it some potential, but it’s missing the tight script, skilled performances, and measured presentation style needed to make the most of what it’s got. As it is, The Crew is a fine little comedy for those with time to kill, but viewers looking for bigger laughs should look elsewhere.
For a similar comedy about aging criminals, try Stand Up Guys, The Maiden Heist, or Going in Style. For a more serious peek inside the mafia lifestyle, try Casino, Goodfellas, or Donnie Brasco. For a light crime comedy with more character, try The Whole Nine Yards.
5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for a decent plot and middling execution.