Foolproof (2003) starring Ryan Reynolds, Kristin Booth, Joris Jarsky, David Suchet directed by William Phillips Movie Review

Foolproof (2003)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Kristin Booth in Foolproof (2003)

Theoretical Robbers

Best friends Kevin (Ryan Reynolds - Van Wilder), Sam (Kristin Booth) and Rob (Joris Jarsky) have a bit of an unusual pastime, they theoretically work out how to pull of robberies going as far as scouting and photographing locations but never doing the job. But that all changes when their meticulous plan to rob a jewellers is stolen and the job is pulled off by dangerous master criminal Leo Gillette (David Suchet - A Perfect Murder) who impressed by their planning blackmails them into planning a heist for him. With little choice the trio work their magic as to how to rob a bank but working for Gillette brings added tension between the friends.

"Foolproof" is the sort of movie which whilst not great deserves to be better known because it does exactly what it sets out do. That is to amuse us with this set up of 3 friends who whilst not criminals strategize how to pull of foolproof heists and through a series of circumstances find themselves forced to actually go through on one of their plans. As such "Foolproof" has the 3 ingredients it needs; the tricks used to pull of a heist, the amusement of the trio being theoretical criminals and of course a twist because lets be honest what heist movie would be complete without a twist.

David Suchet and Ryan Reynolds in Foolproof (2003)

In truth "Foolproof" is actually not that different to any other heist movie, we get to see the planning, the creative ways that are trio get access codes and evade security and as I said the inevitable twist or two. But what makes it fun is that are trio are purely theoretical robbers who whilst having certain skills from Kevin's strategizing to Sam's pick pocketing are just playing at being make believe criminals. It means that when they find themselves blackmailed into actually pulling off a bank job there is the added fun of their inexperience to make it amusing.

But we also get more amusement because as I said we get to watch the planning stage of the heist and lets just say whilst certain elements have a familiarity about them there is a comical creativity to things in "Foolproof". To explain we have a scene where Sam needs to crawl under a series of lasers to get to the other side of the safe room, so Kevin freezes the floor so she can run and belly slide under them. It is both clever, comical and to be honest thanks to Kristin Booth a little sexy and that is what makes "Foolproof" fun, it takes familiar ideas from other heist movies and adds a comical element to them. There is of course the big twist which to be honest if you know your heist movie you will see coming a mile off and it makes little attempt to hide what is going to happen but even then it is entertaining.

What is lacking from "Foolproof" is chemistry because whilst Ryan Reynolds, Kristin Booth and Joris Jarsky all play their individual parts well the sense of camaraderie is lacking making it hard to believe they would stay friends long enough to become theoretical criminals. Having said that they all work well with David Suchet as the dangerous Leo Gillette and Suchet adds that touch of authority which "Foolproof" needs to to make it more than just a fun production.

What this all boils down to is that "Foolproof" is a surprise because whilst not a great movie it is certainly entertaining and has fun with heist movies without becoming a spoof. It is definitely a movie which deserves to be better known and a must watch for fans of heist movies.


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