Foolproof

I had never heard of this Canadian film before, but had seen Ryan Reynolds in "Blade Trinity" recently as well as in "Van Wilder" and, having enjoyed his performances, quickly hunted down a few more of his lessor known films. And I am very glad I did because this film is a real hidden gem! If you enjoy heist/caper films, you will definitely enjoy this. It's not prefect (in fact, it may be just a bit predictable to the most experienced film-watchers) but this is a very slick, beautifully produced, skillfully directed, smartly written movie and is still a lot of fun to watch. Great acting here as well. Reynolds again was terrific in the lead. He is fast becoming one of my favorite actors and is the man to watch in the future. David Suchet is awesome as well as the suave villain. Alternating nicely between suspense, comedy and even a few breathless action sequences, this film is one the most enjoyable surprises I've seen in a long time. Definitely a keeper. An important note to DVD buyers however: There are TWO versions/editions of this film available! One is a single-disc edition distributed by DEJ in the US (the one sold here on Amazon). It is in FULLSCREEN only and is lacking in some of the special features. The other edition is a 2-disc edition distributed in Canada by Alliance-Atlantis. This one is in WIDESCREEN, has more special features (a featurette on the special efffects for example) and has the second disc (a CD) consisting of the complete soundtrack music to the film. The cover art of this Canadian edition is different as well, showing Reynolds, Suchet and Kristen Booth standing in front of a glowing blue vault. Just some info I thought anyone should know if they are thinking about buying the film.

I thought this Canadian movie was pretty well made. I love heist movies or films where they use really cool, high-tech ways of breaking into safes and other things... so this one was right up my alley. I can't say I was disappointed. The movie starts out with a group of three people who, for fun only, plan how to break into places and safes ... making their plans "foolproof" so that they are able to go off without a hitch (it's just a game to them). They never carry out their plans though ... until a set of their plans is stolen. Then a mob-like guy contacts them and makes them break into a safe for him. I don't want to give too much away because it has good twists and turns in it. But if you are looking for an entertaining, exciting, funny, interesting movie, definitely give this one a try. Ryan Renolds is a great actor - he made the movie better just by being it. The supporting cast was pretty good as well. It wasn't an award winning movie or anything, but for a night at home watching a decent movie... it's perfect. Also, check out the extras on the DVD. As stated in the Trivia section on IMDB, an interesting tidbit: The movie was not only the widest release of a Canadian movie in history (as of October 2003), but had a record-breaking marketing budget of $2 million.

You can tell what kind of role Ryan Reynold's is playing by getting a look at his facial hair. Stubble? Beard? Goatee? Why, then he's probably a ruff-n-buff take-no-guff rumbler, perhaps a cop or mercenary do-gooder. Clean shaven with a smarmy grin? Why, then he's probably a fast-talkin' slick-n-sassy womanizer who is struggling with personal demons in spite of his uber-confident exterior.

"Foolproof" is unique, not just because it was the most expensive and most widely released Canadian film for its time, but also because it showcases Reynolds as an enjoyable mix of both of his time-tested cinema personas. He isn't wholly one or the other. In this case, he is Kevin, an insurance claims investigator who, along with his friends Sam (Kristin Booth) and Rob (Joris Jarsky), spend their spare time figuring out "foolproof" plans for daring robberies and bold heists.

They don't ever actually plan to DO any of said robberies/heists; these are just brain exercises, you see, ways to expand the mind and flex one's mental muscles. (And here my idea of stretching the brain is doing crossword puzzles on the john.) Unfortunately, the paperwork on their latest project -- a flawless and meticulously crafted diamond caper -- is stolen and used, with all clues pointing back to them. The culprit, a mobster named Leo, recognizes their skill and coerces them into planning and pulling off one last "foolproof" stunt for him.

It's a caper movie on several levels, since Leo is not only taking advantage of but is also manipulating Kevin and his crew, splintering long-honored trusts, watering doubt where it was sown long ago. Kevin, Sam, and Rob do a good job of getting us to believe they have the brainpower to come up with plans where every base is covered, but Leo introduces a human element that makes "foolproof" seem like a contradiction in terms. People aren't as easy to figure out as locks and security alarm systems.

Reynolds pulls off the balance between his frat boy mugging and tough guy frustration quite well, and he's working alongside some other players that, while maybe not mainstream faces, are just as up for the task. The script and the story don't need much help though; this is a story that sort of tells itself, although the twists at the end -- while plausible and delightful -- might come across as a little ludicrous. Still, when you've got three twenty-somethings with desk jobs whose idea of a fun day off is planning high-profile crimes in elaborate detail, well, words like "ludicrous" don't really play into the equation. It's a fun little film, snarky and slick, fast-paced without snags, and equal measures of smart and silly. It may not be as perfectly executed as Kevin and Co.'s criminal plans, but it is just as rewarding.

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