Takers

Takers Review

Takers Overview

This high-stakes action thriller stars Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Jay Hernandez, Michael Ealy and Tip “T.I.” Harris. After pulling off a spectacular series of brilliantly planned bank robberies, a notorious team of professional criminals attempts one last heist, a once-in-a-lifetime job with a million payoff. And all that stands in their way is a cop hell-bent on doing whatever it takes to solve the case and bring the Takers down. Chris Brown and Hayden Christensen costar in an adrenaline-rushed thrill ride packed with twists and turns.

Takers Specifications

Slick, stylish, and flush with studliness, Takers follows a cadre of thieves as they plot a tricky new heist. The movie has two strengths: it deftly juggles three intertwining plot lines (the mechanics of the heist itself; the maneuvering of the police hunting the thieves; and the scheming of a former member of the gang who feels betrayed) and it walks a fine line between just enough realism to make us care about the thieves (the performances are effectively understated) and just enough absurdity to make everything entertaining (each of the guys has his own fancy car!). It doesn't hurt that the man flesh is all ridiculously handsome (Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Chris Brown, Jan Hernandez, Hayden Christensen, even old-school hunk Matt Dillon) and smashingly tailored in swank suits. And there are a handful of high-energy sequences--including a chase that features zippy parkour climbing stunts through moving traffic--that give the story clichés a nice jolt of pep. All in all, Takers probably won't stick in your memory very long, but it's good fun while it lasts. --Bret Fetzer