Review: Disorganised Crime

A bunch of crims (Fred Gwynne, Ruben Blades, Lou Diamond Phillips, and William Russ) unacquainted with one another assemble at a remote farmhouse in Montana to discuss an upcoming bank job organised by criminal mastermind Corbin Bernsen. Bernsen, however, has just been picked up by dumbski cops Ed O’Neill and Daniel Roebuck and thrown in the local pen. Foul-tempered safecracker William Russ wants to leave, but veteran explosives expert Fred Gwynne (very classy) and sharply dressed Latino Ruben Blades suggest they wait a while for their mutual acquaintance, Bernsen to arrive with whatever job he has planned. Getaway driver Lou Diamond Phillips seems happy to hang around. Meanwhile, Bernsen has managed to escape, with O’Neill and Roebuck trying (ineptly) to capture him again. When the crims find out Bernsen has been arrested, they decide to pull a few jobs to get the money to bail him out. O’Neill and Roebuck, of course, assume that these jobs are the handiwork of Bernsen. Hoyt Axton turns up briefly as the local sheriff.


Written and directed by “Stakeout” screenwriter Jim Kouf (he also wrote the offbeat genre-hopper “The Hidden”) this comedy-caper flick has a solid cast (and Corbin Bernsen- sorry, had to!) and a perfectly workable plot. What it doesn’t have is an ounce of humour, and for a comedy, that’s basically a killer. “The Ladykillers” it ain’t. The film has watchable moments as a crime/caper flick, but without bringing the funnies, one can’t recommend it.


The cast is here and willing, but aren’t given much to work with. Gwynne has amazing presence (“Gremlins” co-star Hoyt Axton does too, but barely has a cameo) and might’ve been good in a more serious-minded caper, whilst the underrated Ruben Blades and a Mickey Rourke-esque William Russ have the film’s best moments (few as they may well be). Lou Diamond Phillips, however is appallingly underused, and his performance suggests he knows it. He was on a high after “La Bamba” and “Young Guns”, but this film (along with “Renegades”, “The Dark Wind”, and “The First Power”) helped kill his momentum completely. A shame, because he’s a really talented actor in the right part (as those first two films I mentioned indeed showed). Corbin Bernsen, meanwhile, has a horribly unfunny slapsticky role that the film continually cuts away to. Ed O’Neill and Daniel Roebuck are talented but are given clichéd dumb cop roles.


There’s just not much to say about this film because there’s not much to it. It’s not awful, just awfully unfunny and a waste of talent (and Corbin Bernsen- hey, a good joke is worth repeating, OK?). It’s entirely forgettable.


Rating: C

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