Masterminds (2016)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

Feeling alone, overwhelmed, and underappreciated at his monotonous job, David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) is coerced into committing one of the greatest financial crimes in American history. After stealing seventeen million dollars, David is on the run, and the other Masterminds behind this asinine crime are after him. Can he survive? Can he find his way? Will he be alone forever?

Masterminds is based on a true crime, and as ridiculous as it sounds, the majority of what is seen on screen throughout this chaotic film, regardless of how logistically and statistically unlikely, is based on fact. A plethora of shows, whether documentary or narrative, have focused, at one point or another, on the stupidity of criminals and how royally they’ve fucked up—leading to their inevitable incarceration. Masterminds is a who’s who of dumbest criminals—a play by play of how to put yourself in the worst situations. In some ways, if you’re willing and able to stomach the imbecility, Masterminds is a strong comedy that hits the right comedic notes. Though, I’d imagine that for many viewers, like myself, much of this film falls flat on its face. 

Where do we draw the line between legitimate and ridiculous comedy, and when do we speak out against the brainrot that plagues our [mostly small] screens? 

Masterminds treads the line between that aforementioned brainrot and comedy with a purpose (and even some depth). Buried deep beneath the surface are characters with reasonable arcs, that support one another and the overall script, and have the potential to resonate with viewers. There’s something meaningful present in Masterminds, but it’s frequently overshadowed by its many flaws. 

The most glaring issue present in Masterminds is the structure and pacing. The three acts, each meant to carry as much weight as the others, lack balance. Tonal balance, emotional balance, and balance in terms of the pacing. This is where the trio of writers struggle the most; and as they attempt to navigate this story at a fluid and cohesive pace, viewers frequently feel pulled out of the story as a result of the inconsistency here. 

In the case of Masterminds, one must accept that the unappealing characters are a result of the direction more than they are a result of the actors. Not a single character in this film is likable—and I often found myself struggling to appreciate the film as a result of their presence. They’re exaggerated at the wrong times, and they steal the film’s energy—draining it of life and forcing viewers to suffer as well. 

I can’t help but think that maybe I’m being a bit pedantic in regard to my thoughts on Masterminds. While I certainly understand the hidden meaning present in each of the characters, I appreciate the intended stupidity of the narrative, and there’s something to be said that this is based on a true story—but all of the meaning that could have been is heavily diluted by just about every other aspect of this production. I was almost immediately taken out of this film, and I struggled to find my way back. 

Directed by Jared Hess. 

Written by Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, & Emily Spivey. 

Starring Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Kristin Wiig, Jason Sudeikis, Kate McKinnon, etc

5.5/10 = WORTH WATCHING, BUT YOU’VE BEEN WARNED 

Make sure to check out the full Reel Reactions w/ Greg & Kyle review featuring Ryan McVie, Jon Seymour, Greg Vorob, and yours truly by heading over to Spotify.