Ocean's 8 - The "Scathing" Review

From a pure entertainment standpoint, Ocean's 8 has all the pieces that should fit together to make a good movie. But not even the experience of Gary Ross and the cast can prevent this all-style-no-substance lack of effort from staying disconnected. Because one cannot help but compare these films to the superior work of Steven Soderbergh from the three previous Ocean's films, Ross's replication does little to make Ocean's 8 more than another in a vast sea of sequels. And replicate it does: the film is a blatant formula carbon copy through-and-through using mimicry of past styles to connect to the same universe, but this time the results are far less entertaining.

From minute one, the film establishes Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett as virtual clones of Clooney and Pitt: a confident and smart leader and an old-friend partner who want to organize a "brilliant" jewel heist in the fanciest place possible. Granted, people are not expecting the most surprising plot for the fourth installment of a series, but the sheer lack of excitement in the script deadens what little was left in the overdone heist movie formula. This film pretty much lacks all of what helped keep the other films lively, namely charisma, humor, and at least a modicum of thrill that's not just solved by plot conveniences. The potential for character bonds and humor is lost in a truly awful script (shockingly waiting until James Corden shows up to deliver any good comedic lines). Not even the expected group camaraderie is established because it just gives so little to the actors, who are trying so hard to make good work with what little they have.

Anne Hathaway is given a few good scenes to work her elegant magic, but sadly even that falls next to the prevalence of the characters saying mostly normal things to each other as the group prepares for the big night. Awkwafina and the always wonderful Helena Bonham Carter are also given weird enough parts to elicit a chuckle, but still, none have the sense that they are more than just doing a job. The story briskly moves along, with no believable reason why they would all be so friendly with each other afterward. In fact, some turmoil might have spiced things up, but everything works so conveniently and easily that the fixes and successes just feel disappointing. The characters just do not need a lot of effort, and it's clear that's how the crew felt as well.

You can argue that an action movie should be more concerned with the feel and style, as Ocean's 8 spends its duration establishing. You can argue that, since we all know that the characters will inevitably get the jewels going in, the viewer does not need to be surprised by what they see. You can argue that it's just important to see strong women succeed and look good doing it. But if a reboot adds so little to the series that it hardly even entertains those who are interested in the film, you have to draw the line somewhere.

Rating: 1.5/4
🌕🌗🌑🌑