Review: The Hustle

The “con” is one of films favorite vehicles. Being smarter than with a great twist that proves that even the audience was bamboozled. In that same spirit, we come upon the The Hustle.

We meet Penny (Rebel Wilson), a down and dirty con artist that uses men and their grosser wants and desires to help find money for herself. Not quite suave or smooth, she find herself in need of an escape to newer hunting grounds.

By chance, she rides into a new plush European community on a train that happens to have a much more talented and refined con artist named Josephine Chesterfield (Anne Hathaway). A woman with eyes on millions and in no mood for lower level street games to ruin her plans.

After meeting and understanding each others goals and standings, they decide to work together with Penny learning under the wing of Josephine. Ideas are hatched and parts are played that leads to many a men being swindled. Unfortunately, like most criminals, money and greed lead to a separation or talents. The only problem, this town just isn’t big enough for two con artists with dreams made of diamonds.

A wager is struck and a mark is picked. Take his money and win the bet and thus, the right to hustle the area. It’s woman versus woman in a no holds barred match to outshine, out seduce and out connive the other.

When I first watched the trailer, I was very much leaning towards this films being a rip-off of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with a pro-woman agenda. And in this, I was not wrong. Rebel Wilson’s over-the-top comedic styling calls back to Steve Martin’s Freddy character, while Anne Hathaway delivered a refined thief of note, that did not fall far from the Michael Caine tree.

All of which, wouldn’t have been a terrible thing. As long as it was done well, which, I’m afraid to say was not the case here. The film had a goal of waking the tight rope between smart and stupid, but plainly fell over onto the stupid side head first. And the pro-woman girls-kick-ass lean fell on deaf ears as plot points made it non-existent. In the end, I would ask you to watch Dirty Rotten Scoundrels instead, you’ll get the same idea. Only watch this film if you are a huge fan of Rebel Wilson’s over-the-top nature and comedy, even then, just enjoy the moments.

Grade: C-
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1hr 34m