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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
Let’s begin this review by soothing the feelings of cringing English teachers everywhere. Yes, we remember being taught that the plural of wolf is wolves. Just not here; Wolfs is not a typo.
A-listers George Clooney and Brad Pitt became a blockbuster buddy team with three beloved casino-heist films (Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s Thirteen). The last time they frolicked together onscreen was in the 2008 comedy Burn After Reading, so it’s been a while (too long?) since the dynamic duo have cavorted at the multiplex.
Clooney and Pitt are no doubt the Newman and Redford of modern times. Still GQ-model hot at 63 (Clooney) and 60 (Pitt), these two have proven themselves more than just pretty faces, as the pair have earned their Hollywood stripes by the amassing of five highly coveted Academy Award Oscars — three for Pitt and two for Clooney.
A “fixer” here is someone illegally hired to conceal a high-profile crime. We meet our first nogoodnik in the character of Jack (Clooney), who is shown snapping on gloves in preparation for covering up a grisly murder.
“There’s nobody who can do what I do,” he asserts, just moments before Nick (Pitt) enters the scene and snaps on his own gloves. (Nick is even dressed much like Jack.) It seems that this second hunky fixer is equally skilled in clandestine endeavors.
As it turns out, both men are working the same assignment, and eventually the two lone-wolf workers are forced to form an unlikely partnership, which finds them leaping feet-first into a convoluted night-long web of intrigue, double-crosses, and absurd situations, many of which are fraught with danger and possible death.
Cars roar recklessly through crowded New York City streets, fierce gun battles transpire, and flying fists keep the action constantly on sizzle and our attention riveted.
Along the way, though, we see that the story itself is unfolding at a rather leisurely pace, which allows for greater character development of the twosome; thus, we are given ample time to witness their growing and palpable chemistry.
The supporting cast of Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams, and Poorna Jagannathan provide a healthy dose of flair to the mix in this quirky action-comedy.
Jon Watts (Spider-Man) wrote and directed the Columbia Pictures project.
“We had a blast doing it,” says Clooney. “It’s an off-the-charts great film, and it was fun to work with Brad again.”
The two are reportedly in talks about an eventual sequel.
Wolfs, an imaginative visual stew of humor, suspense, and more twists than a bowl of pretzels, opens Sept. 20.
Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak peeks of forthcoming movies from his home on the Oregon coast. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.