The Weekend Australian - Review
BECKY (R18+)
Limited release
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Becky is the latest entry in the subgenre of thrillers about criminals who terrorise members of a family. Its main claim to originality lies in its casting: Kevin James, better known for his broad comedy roles in films like Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009), appears here as the leader of a violent quartet of escaped convicts who invade the isolated country cottage where widower Jeff (Joel McHale) has come for a bit of peace and quiet together with his new girlfriend. Also present is his surly 13-year-old daughter, Becky (Lulu Wilson). Becky has gone outside to sulk about her father’s new partner when the bad guys arrive, so it’s left to her to save the day.
A film of this type in which a 13-year-old girl is the heroine could be considered positive, and Lulu Wilson is frighteningly effective as the resourceful and ruthless Becky. But the film is improbable, sadistic and unsubtle so that, after a promising start, it soon descends into banality. As for James, he seems to be enjoying playing against type as the exceedingly nasty villain.