Ocean's 8 Review

PG-13: Language, drug use, and some suggestive contentWarner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures1 Hr and 50 MinutesDir: Gary Ross | Writers: Gary Ross, Olivia MilchCast: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Richard Armitage, James Corden, Dakota Fanning
Danny Ocean's estranged sister Debbie attempts to pull off the heist of the century at New York City's star-studded annual Met Gala. Her first stop is to assemble the perfect all-female crew. THE GOODBe honest. We’re all walking into this because of the cast. You either individually like one of them or ALL of them. The “Ocean's 8” ensemble is having a great time with the material and all work very well together as a team, especially Bullock & Blanchett.
The character who actually has a straightforward personality is Anne Hathaway as Daphne, this megastar who is way too full of herself. Every action she does is funny and usually is for her character, the stereotypical star. Her character says some of the most absurd things but her delivery is so nonchalant that it makes the laughs natural. She’s actively doing a lot of work in her role for she is the comedic relief. So all of you Hathahaters can go Hathaway.Since the film focuses on robbing jewels during the Met Gala, one of the best things are the dresses the characters wear to the gala. When you see our lead actresses walk out all glamorous you’re blown away contextually by the actions they do by this point and how individually stunning they look. You can’t help but to say--
Also, I have a huge admiration for whoever got to pick out outfits for Sarah Paulson who is so damn stylish in this. Her wardrobe is all color-coded sweaters over button-ups. I’m primarily saying this ‘cause my fashion style is nearly the same, but props to a queen who can wear color-schemed clothing.THE BADWow, what a time to watch a studio-driven heist movie a week after an indie heist movie managed to blow me away. As of late there has been an influx of heist movies that were creative, clever, and did something new, especially with the talent they had attached. Last week was “American Animals” which was boosted by a unique form of storytelling. Steven Soderbergh who, not only directed the “Ocean's 11” trilogy that this is based off of but, also heavily expressed how he wasn’t going to make another heist movie, made a great heist movie last year for dummies which was “Logan Lucky”. It was thrilling, original, silly, and funny.
Stylistically, Gary Ross is mimicking Soderbergh so hard and you see this throughout from the transitions to the typical heist score. What Soderbergh has that this film lacks is wit with both the direction and writing. What I really dislike about this movie is that, by heist movie standards, it’s pretty vanilla as in our leads barely have to go through any obstacles to achieve their goal. Besides getting caught and sent to prison, there aren’t really any stakes. There are fun twists and turns here and there, but a good majority of them are all pretty predictable.One of my problems with the original Ocean's is how Danny was set to do this heist but you never knew why. He just did it ‘cause why not? Debbie has the same issue where you don’t get her motivation but she was ready to accomplish her mission the second she left prison. Debbie rounds these ladies up faster than Nick Fury rounded up the Avengers. Unfortunately, barely any of our heroines have character. Ross wastes no time getting into the heist and we don’t really get any establishment of anyone, not even Debbie, until it’s necessary for the script. At a certain point in the previous films, you didn’t see George Clooney as George Clooney, but as Danny Ocean because of his personality and his skills. You don’t get that with Sandra Bullock as Debbie or any of the other characters.
The only characters who get an introductory scene where we get to see their lives are Aqwafina, Kaling… and that’s pretty much it. They’re brief and you still don’t get a sense of their characters. You’re so curious as to how some of these characters know each other prior to this heist that when they’re introduced, the film assumes that we know these characters while I’m going “HEY RIHANNA!” They’re all just characters with more quirks and skills than actual personality.LAST STATEMENT‘Ocean's 8’ may have a star studded ensemble to compensate for its very thin script, but this generically formuliac spinoff lacks the thrills or tension to serve a fully entertaining heist film.Rating: 2.5/5 | 58%Super Scene: Leaving the gala