Knockaround Guys

December 10, 2004

Rated: R Runtime: 93 min Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Knockaround Guys wants to be a mobster movie when it grows up.

Knockaround Guys

In Kockaround Guys, we follow an under boss’s son, Matty Demaret (Barry Pepper), and his crew as they attempt to clean up a big mess in Alberta - uh, I mean Montana - mobster style.

Matty is living a catch-22. He’s trying to get an honest job, but as soon as his Pop’s name comes up, the doors slam in his face. Everyone assumes that since his father is mobster Benny Chains (Hopper), Matty is also a Knockaround Guy. Problem is, the goodfellas don’t see poor Matty as fit for anything except bringing the sandwiches.

Through his father’s friend and associate Teddy (Malkovich) Matty manages to get the okay to oversee a job moving some money. Of course, point man Marbles (Green) quickly manages to screw things up, and Matty and his crew must try to sort things out.

This movie wants to be a mobster movie as badly as Matty seems to want to be a mobster. Unfortunately it seems to be missing many gangster trademarks, such as Italians and gangster accents. It’s also missing some much needed snap and style. The movie just sort of plods along half-heartedly, with only a few redeeming moments where things briefly pick up. These moments are provided mainly by “Face it I’m typecast” Zen-Badass, Vin Diesel doing what he does best. He lets loose with some crispy-clean, ice-cold gangster mojo. And that’s what we really want out of our gangster movies, isn’t it? The bar scene is the one you’ll be quoting.

If you go into this movie knowing nothing about Gangster lore, you’ll likely be bored out of your skull. The movie just doesn’t have enough substance to stand on its own, and not enough style to hide the lack of substance. If you’re steeped in Mobster touchstones such as the Godfather Trilogy, Goodfellas, and Casino and perhaps regularly catch The Sopranos, you might find a few moments of enjoyment here. The movie only works if you think of it as a small chapter in the Great Big Book of Gangster Lore. Even then, it has trouble pulling it off. Same as Matty I guess. Wait for it on DVD and pick it up for the Mobster Marathon Weekend with the boys.

Posted by Rob X | Filed Under 2 Stars, Barry Pepper, Dennis Hopper, Drama, John Malkovich, R, Seth Green, Theatrical, Vin Diesel