Today’s quick review: Focus. Nicky (Will Smith), a professional con man and pickpocket, finds an eager pupil in Jess (Margot Robbie), a talented amateur he invites to join his crew. Their relationship soon turns romantic, only to end abruptly when Nicky gets cold feet. Three years later, the two run into each other again in Buenos Aires, where Nicky is in the middle of a con for the wealthy playboy (Rodrigo Santoro) that Jess is dating.
Focus is a crime comedy and romance about a pair of con artists who can’t quite decide whether to trust each other. Will Smith and Margot Robbie star as Nicky and Jess, two criminals with obvious chemistry who find themselves on opposite sides of an elaborate con. Focus does well with its individual beats, offering a glimpse into a fun world of lies and daring. But its plot leaves something to be desired, even though it packs a couple of nice twists.
Focus’ best feature is its tone. The film puts a lot of effort into selling its crime-fueled, adventurous world. Focus opens with a guided tour of this world, showing off the tools of Nicky’s trade and introducing his colorful accomplices. The dynamic between Will Smith and Margot Robbie works fairly well, while uncertainty about Nicky’s past and motives gives the film some tension. The result is a movie with a strong grasp on its individual scenes.
However, Focus doesn’t have the story to back up its premise. The extended introduction takes a large bite out of the time available for the mian plot. Nicky’s latest scam is also something of a letdown, with little of the glamor usually found in large-scale movie cons. His specific angle is unclear, meaning that the story is more about guessing his motives than watching him try, fail, and course-correct. There’s not much grist for the mill.
The same unfortunate tendency carries over to the romance. The con-within-a-con way that Nicky and Jess operate means that it’s hard to trust their romance. The prospect that one is using the other looms over their entire rekindled relationship, making it hard to invest in what could easily be a lie by either party. That doesn’t stop their scenes together from being enjoyable, but it does keep the movie from managing the viewer’s expectations tightly.
Watch Focus when you’re in the mood for a crime movie with a light tone and minimal violence. In spite of a weak plot, good moment-to-moment writing and a pair of likable leads make it a decent popcorn flick. For a crime movie with sharper comedy and a better con, try Ocean’s Eleven. For one with a better romance and a polished story, check out Out of Sight. For a more heartwarming con artist movie, check out Matchstick Men, Paper Moon, or The Sting.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a fun atmosphere hurt by a somewhat muddled plot.