THE OUT-LAWS: A Criminal Offense

I would be lying if I said it was the film’s trailer for The Out-Laws that drew me in. Rather it was the intriguing ensemble of Adam Devine (Workaholics), Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries), and Pierce Brosnan (Tomorrow Never Dies, Remington Steele). It seemed an unlikely pairing, and the sense of intrigue only heightened as the film promised not only humor but action and adventure. And while it mostly delivers on entertainment, The Out-Laws is uneven in its execution, never fully committing to the story it wants to tell. And While it maintains a level of amusement, it fails to truly connect to its audience.

Robbing Action and Character

Movies like The Out-Laws often leave me wondering why some action movies excel beyond expectations while others fail to never reach their true potential. Many times, I find myself looking to the audience’s reaction, not just during the viewing of the film, but after. Was there enough to keep them engaged? Is it something they talk about long after the film has ended? Is there a foundation for word-of-mouth recommendations? Other times, it is not the quality of the film I look at, but rather the range of its quotability. For still others, it is the depth of action that borderlines on ridiculous that breaks through the saturated genre. For The Out-Laws, it feels like a low budget film launching from an idea that was never fully flushed out.

When you see the fibers of a strong action film, it immediately fails after its opening sequence. Initially, the use of 80s and 90s toys to represent a seating chart for the upcoming nuptials of our leading lovers, my excitement was never again matched for the remainder of the film. This moment of nostalgia made me excited and ready to embrace the film, yet felt hollow and nothing more than a tool to initially connect to the audience. Following this sequence, the audience is immediately introduced to Owen (Adam Devine) and Parker (Nina Dobrev), days away from tying the knot. Right away, audiences will feel the lack of chemistry between them. The film does not leave their relationship feeling authentic or lived in, rather leading its audience to begin questioning Parker’s true intentions as her parents are introduced and Owen’s bank is later robbed.

This was the hardest part to reconcile with The Out-Laws, Parker’s inclusion quickly becoming a quietly presumed betrayal in the making, all while her character falls to cliche projections of a damsel in distress. The Out-Laws never wants to forget her completely, but it feels as though her inclusion in the film is only as a plot device rather than an active workable character over. Marketed as a quartet, Dobrev‘s Parker feels the most forgotten and the most underused.

Technical Mishap

Albeit a predictable role choice, Devine has proven his comedic chops over the years, imbuing a sense of innocence and charm into each of the characters he brings to life – and The Out-Laws is no different. Devine is sweet and perfectly cast for the role of Owen, and while his chemistry with Dobrev leaves much to be desired, he works well within his interactions with Brosnan and Ellen Barkin. Their interactions and pairing give the film its contrasting emersion of worlds, while also working to present a warmhearted and fully resolved conclusion.

This is not to say the film does not have its moments. A memorable high-speed chase through a cemetery ranking as one of the film’s higher achievements in both acting and comedy. Yet, the humor here and throughout the film doesn’t always land. Further complicating the film’s success, the editing in The Out-Laws fails to truly captivate, losing continuity in the moments that would traditionally allow the film to feel seamless as it transitions between scenes and camera angles.

Conclusion

The Out-Laws is a workable piece of entertainment, yet will struggle to be a film audiences remember after its release.

The Out-Laws premiered on Netflix on July 7, 2023!

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