CRIME COMEDY; 1hr 45min
STARRING: Will Smith, Margot Robbie
Hot tickets: Smith and Robbie
Con man Nicky (Smith) is as light-fingered as an illusionist. “Die with the lie” is his motto and fine-honed focus his cardinal rule. Peachy-keen Jess (Robbie) is Nicky’s intern in “the volume business” of mass street theft and resale, and in the bedroom. Nicky and his team (Adrian Martinez and Brennan Brown are star players) cover a dazzling amount of material ground, taking $1.2 million for one week’s work. It’s a fast, loose and glossed-up life for those with the steel-wired nerves to stand it and the cold-blooded brain power to pull it off.
Nicky certainly qualifies, Jess maybe not so much. The two part ways abruptly in New Orleans, then reconnect unexpectedly in Buenos Aires three years later. She’s with someone else (Rodrigo Santoro) while he … but no. The less you know heading into this sleekly landscaped tease from writer-directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Crazy, Stupid Love), the more fun you’re in for. Smith is a go-to pro from way back, natch, and Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) is with him all the way. They dance a mean two-step through curves, swerves and unmaskings even a psychic couldn’t see coming.
