Today’s quick review: Recall. A year after the death of his girlfriend Nicole, Mikey (Michael James Regan) has hit rock bottom. Touchy, evasive, and unable to recall the details of the accident, the last person Mikey wants to see is his stepbrother Dale (Tommy James Murphy), a small-time crook with questionable judgment. But this time Dale has a job that will set them up for life: stealing $2 million from the local mob in the midst of a drug deal.
Recall is a budget crime drama about a pair of stepbrothers who plan to rip off the Mafia. Recall weaves together two main plot threads, the robbery and Mikey’s accident, in an attempt to tell a story that’s as emotional as it is thrilling. Unfortunately, the movie falls well short of its goals. Low production values, splotchy acting, a weak script, and a distinct lack of action make Recall a poor pick that’s outclassed by other budget films.
Recall runs into issues with its basic premise. Mikey and Dale are inept criminals who only stand a chance due to the even greater incompetence of the Vertucci family. The two have no concrete plan for taking the money, let alone keeping it, and it’s only through sheer contrivance that the robbery gets as far as it does. The film attempts to paint Dale as the irresponsible one, but even Mikey’s victories come down to luck rather than skill.
The personal side of the story doesn’t fare much better. Mikey and Nicole’s relationship is introduced through flashbacks that have little to do with the main plot, show a bare minimum of character development, and play coy with basic facts. Nicole herself doesn’t even appear until late in the film, robbing her already thin storyline of substance. On top of this, Mikey’s amnesia is ill-defined and never plays an important role in the plot.
There are other aspects of the story that could have picked up the slack, but Recall fails to take advantage of them. The tension between Sal Vertucci (Louis Di Bianco) and his nephew Vinny (Stefano DiMatteo) over the future of the family never amounts to anything. Dale’s girlfriend Alexis (Katrina Isberg) tips him off about the deal then all but disappears. There’s no attempt to flesh out the world or characters at all beyond the immediate premise.
The end result is a budget crime flick that has the makings of an interesting story but lacks the skill to pull it off. Recall has a few saving graces, including a half-decent twist, a mostly coherent story, and a run time that doesn’t overstay its welcome. But there’s no reward for the viewer’s investment, and the movie’s failings aren’t spectacular enough to provide their own form of entertainment. Most viewers will want to steer well clear.
For a better budget crime drama about the relationship between two brothers, try American Heist or Arsenal. For one with more action, try The Hard Way or The Debt Collector. For a budget heist movie with more ambition, more charm, and similar flaws, try Checkmate. For one with a horror twist and more endearing mistakes, try Vampiyaz.
3.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 3.5 for poor execution all the way around.