In a gender swap remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson join forces in bringing the fiercely funny concept to life for a whole new generation. The Hustle is out now on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download with a quartet of bonus features that is actually more enjoyable than the movie itself.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels starred Steve Martin and Michael Caine as a pair of con men who work their shady shenanigans in the south of France to varying levels of success. The film was firmly 80s-centric and given new technologies and the comedic talents of Hathaway and Wilson, on paper, this thing had the supremist of promise.
First of all, Wilson and Hathaway have impeccable comedic chemistry that is on display from the first moment they share scenes (it’s a fun little train ride that clues viewers into what exactly to expect from this cinematic pairing that is not quite as strong as Martin and Caine. Then again, could anyone be—I mean, those two actors are legends!
Hathaway and Wilson do everything they can to bring joy, humor and even a sprinkle of suspense to a script by Stanley Shapiro, Jac Schaeffer, Dale Launer and Pau Henning that feels like a screenplay by committee instead of a well-laid out and thought out crime comedy that the original possessed. There is such a thing as too many chefs in the screenwriting kitchen at times and sadly, The Hustle seems to have suffered from that ailment. The pure talent that is the two leads carries the quintet’s script further than what would seem humanly possible. It speaks volumes to their collective talent that that is achieved because the script is at times lazily laid out and above all else … just doesn’t pack the punch that it should given the first film’s pedigree and the true talent of Hathaway and Wilson.
There are numerous moments that are hilarious and bring out the best of our two leads. Also, of note, it is a film that does not suffer from the “all the funny parts are in the trailer” ailment, that so many movies suffer from and as such, prepare for some surprisingly joyous moments and a few LOL scenes that you might just want to rewind and witness again. After all, times like these in our socio-political timeline require some laughs and if nothing else, The Hustle does give us some pretty memorable laughs.
Wilson does a masterful job of portraying a character who appears as if she is in over her head, but in fact she is exactly where she wants to be and as such, one could easily see her getting the best of Hathaway’s character. But The Hustle has much give and take and as much as Wilson’s character is trying to pull one on Hathaway’s part, so too is the Les Mis Oscar winner. There is a lot of given and take in the remake that recalls the back-and-forth that was so sensational from Martin and Caine in the 80s.
There is a comedic and plot twist in The Hustle that is a tad different from the original. It is a delight when it happens and kudos to all involved that they were able to pull it off. For all the “meh” moments that occur in that script, it is a terrific effort on filmmaker’s part that that twist could not have been seen coming by anyone. Well done …
There is a Fab Four of bonus featurettes that are even more entertaining than the movie itself and that is not such a bad thing. Hitting the Mark is a solid behind-the-scenes featurette that takes viewers inside the effort to remake a classic and bring it up to date on a myriad of levels. Hathaway and Wilson provide priceless insight into the making of the movie and one can see their passion for the project and their awesome artistry coming through in this featurette that will easily make viewers appreciate the dynamic duo’s talent all the more.
Comedy Class is a unique bonus featurette in that it firmly spotlights the comedic talents of every actor in the ensemble and how they uniquely influence the tone and tenor of the entire movie. Meanwhile, Con Artists (which has an amazing moniker) showcases the artists that work behind the camera—the literal unsung heroes of this comedic undertaking. The costume designer and production designer chime in on their unique gifts and how the duo’s work added layers of richness to the comedy.
Lastly, definitely check out the audio commentary track by director Chris Addison that will add countless layers to the experience that is witnessing his film. When a film’s bonus features don’t give away all the tricks of the trade, like is the case with The Hustle, the audio commentary track provides an incredible insight into the making of the movie from the person who was most responsible for that endeavor. With Addison chiming in at various points throughout the movie, prepare to look at The Hustle a little differently with the helmer’s haughty highlights.
Film Grade: B-
Bonus Features: A-