“Caper”

“Caper” is a film with an identity crisis. It’s part comedy and part heist movie, but never fully successful at being either. With a fun premise and solid cast of characters, I wanted to like this one far more than I actually did.

The story follows a tight-knight group of older men pals who find themselves on a chaotic, all-night mission through New York City after one of them accidentally sends a compromising sext to his boss. Their desperate attempts to undo the mistake lead them into a tangled web of bribery, hacking, and sheer dumb luck.

I know this sounds like it could be a lot of fun, and you’re right. Too bad writer / director Dean Imperial squanders the premise.

The first act is particularly rough, with a painfully slow start and a mediocre script full of humor that never quite lands. You can tell the film wants to be funny, but it simply isn’t, which makes for an awkward viewing experience. Once the movie shifts gears into full-on heist mode, things start to improve slightly.

The camaraderie among the characters is a highlight, and the dynamic of a “ride or die” friendship carries the film through its weaker moments. It’s refreshing to see a diverse, older cast in a genre usually dominated by younger faces, and their chemistry is believable even when the script falters.

Thematically, the film touches on topics like toxic masculinity and misguided male logic, but it never quite commits to exploring these ideas in a meaningful way. Instead, it plays out as a series of escalating bad decisions made by well-meaning but clueless men (a poor man’s “The Hangover,” if you will). While everything that can go wrong does go wrong, the lack of real comedic punch keeps the film from fully working as a dark comedy.

Oddly enough, the film sets itself up for a sequel, which is an ambitious move given how unsure it seems of its own identity. Hat’s off to the filmmakers for their unyielding confidence, at least.

“Caper” isn’t a total failure, but it’s difficult to pin down exactly what it’s trying to be. If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud comedy, this isn’t it. If you are seeking a thrilling heist film, this also isn’t it. But if you enjoy watching a bunch of schmucks get in way over their heads, it might be worth a watch as long as you temper your expectations.

By: Louisa Moore