Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
An art curator decides to seek revenge on his abusive boss by conning him into buying a fake Monet, but his plan requires the help of an eccentric and unpredictable Texas rodeo queen.
The 2012 Gambit remake is a largely forgettable caper comedy despite a talented cast including Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz, and Alan Rickman. The plot, based on the 1966 original and written by the Coen Brothers, squanders a promising premise with muddled comedic execution and a script that never quite clicks. The slapstick set pieces feel forced rather than inspired, and the Coen Brothers' typically sharp wit is oddly muted. Acting is the film's strongest suit, with Rickman delivering his usual sardonic charm and Firth showing decent comic timing, though Diaz's broad Texan caricature grates. Cinematography is serviceable but bland. The ending offers little surprise or satisfaction, wrapping up in a predictable fashion. As a heist-comedy it feels derivative of better entries in the genre, offering little that distinguishes it from countless similar capers.