Title: Flypaper
Director: Rob Minkoff
Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Ashley Judd, Jeffrey Tambor, Mekhi Phifer, Octavia Spencer, Curtis Armstrong, Tim Blake Nelson, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Matt Ryan
Finding a thorough comedic crime-caper is almost as hard as locating a decent hard rock album these days. Meaning the entire production needs to have the ability to entertain & intrigue all the way until the credits roll. Basically, the levels should never drop or deviate from the intended approach.
The re-whatever “Ocean’s Eleven” franchise found a way to handle that stated criteria, and there’s been a few solid buddy-cop flicks in recent years that hit the right pitch. Even a film such as “Snatch” seamlessly wove in a dry humor within the mild suspense it was portraying. So in comes “Flypaper,” an 87 minute piece that tries to do a little of what all the previous mentioned titles successfully did. And this feature has a shot for the script was penned by the two guys (Jon Lucas & Scott Moore) who are apt to create such an environment as audiences saw in “The Hangover.” Knowing that, director Rob Minkoff compiled a game crew who were ready to give it their all. But can they pull-off the tricky “heist?” (Apparently I just turned into a promo writer)
Flypaper takes place in a large bank where Kaitlin (Ashley Judd) & Madge (Octavia Spencer) work as tellers. Tripp (Patrick Dempsey) strolls in to change-out a hundred dollar bill and asks Kaitlin to break-up it using only coin currency and to sort the coins based on prime numbers. While the simple inquisitive & perceptive guy is analyzing the soon-to-be married teller, he surveys the people coming into the bank and alerts them that they’re about to be robbed. And sure enough – much to the dismay of bank president Gordon Blythe (Jeffrey Tambor) – he’s correct.
However, the bank is getting robbed by two separate crews at the same time. One group (Mekhi Phifer, John Ventimiglia, Matt Ryan) wielding machine guns and hi-tech gear are going after the vault. The other team, or duo – who enter the premises looking like white-trash hillbilly gangsters (or southern heavy metal fans) – stake claim to the ATM’s. The latter’s code names: Peanut Butter (Tim Blake Nelson) & Jelly (Pruit Taylor Vince). After a standoff ensues between both sets of felons, a suspicious looking man (Eddie Matthews) is shot during the exchange of bullets. Tripp interjects with his unusual intellect between the two crews, for the odds of having two robberies hitting the same bank at the same time perplexes him greatly; and since he’s off his medication (literally), he must find out why things are unfolding the way they are. This drives both crews – and the six or seven hostages – crazy. Yet they all slowly realize…the hyper guy does have a point.
If one understands what the forthcoming sentence translates to, then they can stop reading the review and know exactly what they’re getting with this flick: This is just like the board game – and 1985 movie – “Clue.” Everyone is a suspect and the dialogue between all the parties is witty and light even though the “seriousness” of the situation is always present. Flypaper is a mystery that will get you laughing all while you constantly think about the endgame. And the endgame and/or result are well-hidden for the most part. Even if you can figure it out, chances you had to go back-and-forth a few times before assuring yourself of your accusation (just like the Clue game).
The fun lies in letting Patrick Dempsey’s in-his-own-world character take you on a ride as he interacts with anyone and everyone. In this type of plot, it’s hard to find someone better than Dempsey to keep the shenanigans moving along all while not winking at the audience. Once he ushers in the playful tone, the rest of the cast is amazingly given ample to time for the audience to get to know, which therefore, enhances the comedy. Just picture the majority of the cast doing an elaborate Improv sketch where everyone is playing off each other’s unique persona.
Watching the dimwitted Peanut Butter and Jelly interact with the veteran bank robbers as they try to coexist can be more entertaining than the plot itself. Seeing them pick hostage teams “playground style” and comparing their crime rankings on the internet sets the stage for great one-liners and conversation. The way each team handles the hostages – including Dempsey’s character – is one of those moments where people are just blurting out what they’re thinking, instead of being considerate. Every scene will have the viewer anxious for more comedy and/or to learn more about who is pulling the strings on this caper.
Overall, Flypaper is homage to all the comedic mystery tales that have been spun in cinema. Although it borrows heavily from a film such as Clue, it still manages to create its own identity. Plus, this charismatic caper definitely has replay value people.
Technical: B
Story: B+
Acting: A
Overall: B+
Review by Joe Belcastro
