1.5/5
Let's get started, I wasn't expecting a lot but I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed Focus. Will Smith is as watchable as ever and Margot Robbie's stock continues to rise. However when the final credits rolled I had a feeling that something was missing, it didn't take long for me to realise what it was.For all the twists, turns (however predictable) and style (definitely over substance) I realised how 2D the film was.
SPOILERS AHEAD. None of the characters had flaws or arcs to their story lines. The most interesting part of the film was when Will Smith's Mellow appeared to have a gambling problem, this was hinted at before it came to the fore front at the Super Bowl. Mellow appeared to lose control when betting against a business man. The stakes got higher and higher until when it seemed like all as lost, it was all a big ruse, which brings me to my next point.
Not at one single point was Mellow not in control. This killed all the suspense. There were no stakes too due to a strange final third that had no set up what so ever. It felt like writer director team of Glenn Ficarra and John Requa just focused (no pun intended) on constantly trying to add a twist to every scene that they forgot to give it an actual story line.
In conclusion, Will Smith, Margot Robbie and the slick direction almost mask the fact that the film is paper thin and the characters are thinner.
