Masterminds
IN 1997, US-based cash-handling company Loomis, Fargo & Co was robbed twice. Both heists were conducted by the company’s very own employees.
Masterminds is based on the second heist, conducted by vault supervisor David Scott Ghantt (Galifianakis), his married girlfriend Kelly Campbell (Wiig) and her friend Steve Chambers (Wilson).
The crime saw the trio and their co-conspirators robbing the company of US$17.3 million (RM70.93 million), making it the second-largest cash robbery in the United States at that time.
The movie starts off by introducing us to Ghantt, and gives us a look at his supposedly simple and blissful life.
Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson and Kirsten Wiig Director: Jared Hess E-Value: 4 Acting: 4 Plot: 5
Like most of Galifianakis’ characters in his previous movies, Ghantt is portrayed as a simpleton that is actually quite smart, and possesses a strong moral code.
Initially, when he was approached by Campbell and Chambers to conduct the robbery, he turned it down. But using his attraction to her to her advantage and with a little seduction, Campbell eventually manages to convince Ghantt to be part of the heist.
Much of the movie follows the real-life events that ensue, but of course, there are a lot of comedic elements and stretching of the truth involved. At times, you can tell it is quite forced.
While the jokes and comedic moments are funny, they aren’t of the kind you would remember and laugh about after the movie ends. Some jokes essentially fall by the wayside, and can even come off as terrible.
As for the actors, let’s just say they did what they could to make the movie entertaining, which isn’t really saying much.
Everyone except Wiig seems to have cranked the silliness dial of their characters all the way up to 11, and instead of being funny, it ends up being the total opposite.
If you have a penchant for inane and incredibly silly comedies, maybe Masterminds will work for you.
But if you prefer your comedies with a smattering of intelligence, I’d suggest you stay clear of this movie. Which is quite sad, as I actually found the actual, real-life story quite interesting.