Today’s quick review: Mo’ Money. Johnny Stewart (Damon Wayans) spends his days running scams with his brother Seymour (Marlon Wayans), but he knows that it’s just a matter of time before he’s sent back to jail. He gets a shot at legitimacy when, while trying to impress Amber (Stacey Dash), he lands a job at a credit card company. However, old habits die hard, and Johnny soon finds himself caught up in a dangerous credit card scam.
Mo’ Money is a crime comedy about a grifter trying to change his ways, or at least stop getting caught. Damon Wayans stars as Johnny Stewart, a clever man with a criminal past who has to navigate the fine line between being in jail and being broke. Mo’ Money is a light comedy about Johnny’s attempts to find a job, woo Amber, and fight off temptation. Energetic performances and a well-constructed plot make Mo’ Money a fairly enjoyable watch.
Mo’ Money’s greatest strength is its main character. Johnny Stewart is not one of the all-time greats of the genre, but Damon Wayans fits the role well. Even more importantly, he pulls off the difficult trick of making Johnny likable in spite of his dishonesty. The combination of smart hustles, persistence, and a pesky honest streak is enough to make Johnny a character worth investing time in, which in turn holds the movie together.
As far as story is concerned, Mo’ Money has just what it needs. Johnny’s criminal background, his romantic life, and his new job give the movie a few different plot threads to work with, while a police investigation into a cover-up at his company rounds out the plot nicely. The story hits a nice balance, with enough variety to keep from getting stale but enough consistency to feel coherent.
How much you get out of Mo’ Money will depend on how much you like its characters, but it has enough going on to be worth a shot for those who are in the mood for it. If you like the sound of petty crime, bad decisions, and a bit of story to go with them, give Mo’ Money a try. If you’re looking for laugh-out-loud comedy, a masterful plot, or emotional depth, give it a pass.
For another comedy about a grifter who gets in over his head, try Money Talks. For a more uplifting comedy about turning around from a criminal past, try The Upside. For a parody that doubles down on a similar set of caricatures, try I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.
5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for fun characters and a decent plot without the raw quality of execution to take them farther.