Rating 5/10
The Instigators is essentially a B-movie that doesn’t aspire beyond middling fare. I had high hopes. Director Doug Liman was once known for standout flicks like Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Edge of Tomorrow. The film showcases an impressive ensemble but falls far short of delivering an experience anyone would charitably call memorable. Produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon under their production company, Artists Equity, this release was distributed by Apple TV+, marking yet another direct-to-streaming project in Liman’s recent filmography. His Road House remake earlier this year was even more forgettable. He’s on an upswing?
The saga centers around a botched robbery in Boston, led by Rory (Matt Damon), a retired Marine, and Cobby (Casey Affleck), an alcoholic. When their plan goes awry, they find themselves on the run, taking Rory’s therapist, Dr. Donna Rivera (Hong Chau), hostage. Amidst the chaos, they manage to snag a bracelet belonging to a corrupt city official. Mayor Miccelli (Ron Perlman) hires a crooked cop (Ving Rhames) to retrieve it. What follows is a series of misadventures that teeter between dreary and dull.
With a cast that includes Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Hong Chau, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, and Toby Jones, one should expect something more substantial or noteworthy. Unfortunately, the production never lives up to its potential. While it’s not a complete disaster, The Instigators ends up being a standard and unremarkable heist flick.
The characters and plot are crushingly formulaic, and the attempt to blend an action comedy with a gritty crime drama is clumsy and disjointed. It struggles to engage. Chaotic car chases abound, with one incongruously set to Petula Clark’s optimistic classic “Downtown.” It tries but fails to land as a humorous moment. The overall effect is generic and uninspired. Insert a needle drop here. Have people argue over there. The exasperated actors occasionally resort to shouting, as if raising their voices makes the scene funnier. While the dialogue occasionally amuses, it’s still hackneyed, unfolding like dozens of other pictures without an original or fresh idea in sight.
In the end, The Instigators is passable entertainment at best. Forget the bracelet—they should’ve stolen a better script.
08-09-24