Lift Movie Review (2024) | BestMovieWeb
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| Lift Movie Review (2024) | BestMovieWeb |
Netflix's latest foray into the heist genre disappointingly falls flat. 'Lift' assembles an impressive roster of talent both in front of and behind the camera, yet ultimately succumbs to formulaic storytelling and stock characters.
Director F. Gary Gray showed a deft hand at balancing action, comedy, and characters in slick heist films like 'The Italian Job'. But his skillset feels wasted on the pedestrian script and lackluster performances in 'Lift'.
Kevin Hart steps into a rare dramatic leading role as the crew's mastermind Cyrus. But his charisma feels stilted when constrained to brooding protagonist mode. Gone is his trademark manic energy and nervous banter that punctuates his comedy. A half-hearted attempt to rekindle an old flame with Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Interpol agent Abby elicits more yawns than sparks.
The ensemble cast of thieves lacks the colorful personality of an 'Ocean's Eleven'-style heist team. From the stoic pilot to the one-note disguise expert, none stand out beyond their plot function. Attempted banter sounds like actors bouncing bland lines rather than a band of crooks with real rapport.
The convoluted plot sends the crew jet-setting to exotic locales like Venice, London, and Brussels. But the beautiful backdrops feel like window dressing rather than integral settings. Frantic editing tries and fails to inject adrenaline in repetitive action scenes aboard planes and trains. By the final showdown, the stakes feel more tiresome than tense.
'Lift' will surely attract eyeballs thanks to its marketable cast and Netflix's promotion. But for fans of the heist genre, it offers nothing fresh. Viewers seeking wit, style, and invention will walk away disappointed. 'Lift' coasts on its potential without delivering any surprises or standout set pieces to thrill jaded audiences.
In the end, 'Lift' amounts to little more than high-gloss, low-energy heist-film comfort food. Stream it as benign background entertainment, but don't expect to remember any moments or characters a week later. Given the talent involved, it's a letdown that feels more mediocre than memorably bad. For far superior options, check out 'Ocean's Eleven' or Netflix's own 'Red Notice' to see how this genre should be done.
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