Movie Review: Relativity Studios' Masterminds

MASTERMINDS
OPENING DATE: Friday, September 30
RATING: PG-13
Director: Jared Hess
Writers: Emily Spivey and Jody Hill & Danny R. McBride and Chris Bowman & Hubbel Palmer
Cast: Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig, and Jason Sudeikis
Producers: Lorne Michaels, John Goldwyn
Co-Producers: Kenneth Halsband, D. Scott Lumpkin
Exec. Producers: Ryan Kavanaugh, Tucker Tooley, Kevin Messick, Jody Hill, Danny R. McBride, Erin David, Ron Burkle, Jason Colbeck, Andrew Panay

In this action comedy inspired by true events, directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite;Nacho Libre), David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) discovers the true meaning of adventure far beyond his wildest dreams. He is an uncomplicated man stuck in a monotonous life. Day in and day out he drives an armored vehicle, transporting millions of other people’s money with no escape in sight. The only glimmer of excitement is his flirtatious work crush Kelly Campbell (Kristen Wiig) who soon lures him into the scheme of a lifetime.

Along with a group of half-brained criminals led by Steve Chambers (Owen Wilson) and an absurdly faulted heist plan, David manages the impossible and makes off with $17 million in cash…only problem is he foolishly hands the money over to this wild group of double crossers and has been set up to take the fall. With the bandits blowing the millions on lavish and ridiculous luxuries, they leave behind a glaring trail of evidence. Now on the lam and in over his head, David must dodge the authorities, evade a hilarious hit man, Mike McKinney (Jason Sudeikis), and try to turn the tables on the ones he trusted most.

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Masterminds delivers as a laugh-out loud comedy that is just simple fun from beginning to end. Set in the late 90’s and based on a true story, David Ghantt is an uncomplicated armored vehicle driver who is stuck in a rut with his daily routine at work. Lured into participating in a robbery by a flirtatious co-worker proves to be the heist of a lifetime. Later being double crossed, David has to not only evade the authorities and dodge a hitman, but try and bring the master-mind behind the plan down in hopes of getting himself off the hook.

I want to foremost say that the entire cast did an extraordinary job in this movie! Zach Galifianakis gave a hilarious performance as David Ghnatt. Galifianakis delivers making his character lovable and quickly has you cheering for him as he tries to outwit the group of half-brained criminals that are working against him led by Steve Chambers, played by Owen Wilson. Kate McKinnon is quickly becoming one of my favorites to watch on screen and did a great job as Jandice, David’s fiancé.

The on screen chemistry was excellent and the movie flowed really well making it an entertaining experience all around. When you pull together a ban of comedic actors such as Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Jones, Owen Wilson, and of course Zach Galifianakis, you can expect a good time and that is exactly what Masterminds gives its audience.