The name of the book, The Flying Bandit, would have been such a better title and would, if nothing else, give people American Made vibes before checking it out, and that comparison is quite apt. It's not as good, but it's still a very enjoyable heist caper in that vein. I'm talking disguises, get rich quick and lavish expenditure montages, federal agents on his tail, freeze-frames and accompanying narration, etc. It is never boring. It clips along at a nice pace with a jaunty score and fun dialogue. It's really well written for a streaming movie. It may appear to be an Emmett/Furla-type production, but it's really not, and Allan Ungar clearly knows how to cut a film.

Josh Duhamel is great as bank robber Robert Whiteman. He's the stand out performer in a film with other larger names, such as Mel Gibson and Elisha Cuthbert, and it's nice to see because I don't remember Duhamel really headlining a film before. Mel doesn't do much here, he's just good old reliable Mel but he is still largely the reason I checked it out, and the film doesn't disappoint at all. In fact, I'm relieved, because his last few non-theatrical releases (Hot Seat, Panama, and Agent Game) have been garbage. I don't mind Mel doing DTV as long as they're like Bandit, or Fatman and Dragged Across Concrete. Cuthbert is still attractive, though different from that The Girl Next Door way. Now she's housewife hot, like Monica Potter ten years ago, and I was happy to see her in this. Néstor Carbonell is also pretty good as the chasing detective.

All-in-all it's not going to move you or make you laugh your ass off - I'm super positive about it because I expected another DTV misfire - but you'll enjoy yourself for a couple of hours.

I'm been meaning to see this since it came out and finally made the time. It was Gibson that pulled me to this actually, but it turns out his role is really minor. Anyway this is a real pleasure to watch, Duhamel is excellent, I hadn't seen him in much or was impressed with it, but he definitely nails this part and Cuthbert who I've pretty much not seen since the 2000's is great too. This is a type of Catch Me if You Can story, and it doesn't have the prestige that film had, but it's not trying to be either. It does just very well with its means and is simply very aptly made and fun. I hear Ungar and Duhamel have re-united for a to be released London Calling and I look forward to that.

B

Ooh, interesting. One to watch out for.