Today’s quick review: Term Life. Nick Barrow (Vince Vaughn) is a career criminal who plans heists and sells them to other criminals to pull off. He lands in hot water when one of his clients is murdered, putting a vengeful drug lord (Jordi Molla) on his trail. Now Nick must stay off the grid while he looks for the real killer, all while trying to patch up his relationship with his estranged teenage daughter Cate (Hailee Steinfeld).
Term Life is a crime thriller about a professional criminal forced to pick up the pieces of his professional and personal lives in the wake of a job gone wrong. Vince Vaughn stars as Nick Barrow, who must use all his wits to figure out who set him up and why. Term Life combines a crime-genre plot with a personal story about a father regaining the trust of his daughter. In spite of a promising setup, the movie’s execution falls somewhat flat.
Term Life lives and dies with its main character, and unfortunately, Nick Barrow is not quite up to the challenge. The character works fine on paper, a more grounded version of a criminal mastermind who has a sharp mind and a compelling set of problems. However, Vince Vaughn is a rough fit for the role, turning in a dry performance that has none of his usual flair. The result is a movie centered around a character who’s hard to invest in.
Even with this handicap, Term Life makes a good showing of it. The plot progresses quite nicely, with opportunities for Nick to think his way out of trouble, and the finale is about as well-constructed as one could hope for. The relationship between Nick and Cate gets off to a slow start, but it eventually comes into its own as Nick starts to show her the tricks of his trade. Nick even overcomes some of his woodenness as the story goes on.
Term Life is a flawed movie, but it may be worth a shot for fans of the crime genre. Trouble getting Nick out of the starting gate ruins the movie’s chance at having a real impact on the viewer, but it does manage to salvage its story and, to a lesser extent, its characters as the movie goes on. Viewers with exacting standards should stay away. Those willing to overlook Vaughn’s performance for the sake of a crime flick should consider it.
For a more thrilling budget crime movie with a similar setup, try Wheelman. For a more thoughtful drama about a criminal reconnecting with his estranged daughter, try Matchstick Men. For a similar pairing with more distinctive characters, try The Professional. For a comedic heist movie set in a similar world, try The Art of the Steal.
5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a fine setup let down by a mediocre lead.