Today’s quick review: Disorganized Crime. Four criminals (Fred Gwynne, Ruben Blades, William Russ, and Lou Diamond Phillips) show up in a small Montana town only to find that Frank Salazar (Corbin Bersen), the man who called them all there, has gone missing. While the crew tries to piece together the bank robbery Frank had planned for them, Frank tries to escape the custody of the two police officers (Ed O’Neill and Daniel Roebuck) who arrested him.
Disorganized Crime is a crime comedy about a bank robbery that goes off the rails before it even begins. Four criminals must cope with the disappearance of their leader, figure out how to trust one another, and overcome a series of unlucky breaks to pull off a six-figure heist. In spite of its small-town setting, Disorganized Crime has an elaborate plot that gives its characters plenty to do. Even so, the movie’s sense of humor only takes it so far.
Disorganized Crime strikes the right balance with its plot. Bad luck dogs the characters throughout the movie, making a mess of even their most sensible plans. The chaos keeps the plot fresh and interesting, with none of the complacency that afflicts other low-stakes heist films. At the same time, the characters never lose their sense of agency. Seeing how they react and adapt to the setbacks along the way is Disorganized Crime’s best aspect.
However, Disorganized Crime does have its limitations. The movie never makes more than a few stabs at overt humor, instead relying on its odd situations and the frustration of its characters to carry the comedy. As a result, there are no individual jokes that stand out from the rest. The same goes for its story. Disorganized Crime has a flat structure that makes its twists unpredictable but also limits the movie’s ability to build to its finale.
Disorganized Crime is a solid heist movie that balances an engaging plot with a light tone. The movie does not manage its tension as well as it could have, and other comedies outclass it in terms of raw humor, but what’s there is enough to make Disorganized Crime a fun time. Viewers who enjoy seeeing a plan come together may want to give it a shot. Those hoping for something with either bigger laughs or higher stakes will want to steer clear.
For a crime movie with a similar setup and somewhat more drama, try Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. For a black comedy about a bank robbery that spirals out of control, try Flypaper. For a much darker, more violent movie about criminals forced to trust one another, try Reservoir Dogs.
6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a solid script that’s missing the extra spark it needs to go farther.