The Out-Laws review

The Out-Laws is an action comedy that would have been a lot better if it didn’t try so hard.

It’s got a solid premise and some solid performances. The film’s biggest issue is it’s way too much where just a little would go so much farther. This doesn’t make the film a terrible watch — there’s some legit very funny scenes, but they’re weighed down by moments where the filmmakers are desperately trying for laughs instead of just letting them come more naturally.

Owen Browning (Adam Devine) is days away from marrying the love of his life, Parker (Nina Dobrev, Love Hard). For Owen, Nina is the jackpot especially considering his socially awkward parents (Richard Kind and Julie Hagerty) and his own quirks. Parker is so understanding as she’s leery whenever her largely absent parents, Billy (Pierce Brosnan, Black Adam) and Lilly (Ellen Barkin, Brooklyn’s Finest), come around.

Hoping to make a good impression, Owen is game for whatever Billy and Lilly want to do while Parker is working. This leads to some wild moments like skydiving, getting tattoos and a crazy night of drinking, which doesn’t do wonders for Owen the next day when he heads to his job as a bank manager.

Owen’s day quickly gets worse as the bank gets robbed. As he starts recalling the previous night, Owen starts wondering if his soon to be in-laws were the bank robbers. Screenwriters Ben Zazove and Evan Turner aren’t huge on subtlety quickly dropping any mystery and pretense that Billy and Lilly aren’t the guilty party.

They’re on the hook with crime boss Rehan (Poorna Jagannathan, The Blacklist), who expects them to come up with a massive payday or Parker’s wedding is going to be short a few guests…permanently.

Reluctantly, Billy and Lilly agree to let Owen help out and to no one’s surprise it goes horribly wrong.

Zazove and Turner tend to sledgehammer jokes and moments bludgeoning them past the peak humor spot. Worse, they favor more crude, vulgar humor that largely feels out of place in this comedy that could have been stronger as a more sophisticated comedy with periodic silly moments instead of outright slapstick fare.

A running joke about an orgy and Dan Marino feels more forced than edgy while Owen’s bank rival, played by Lauren Lapkus, is an over-the-top caricature.

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Owen is made out to be too stupid and goofy with Devine happily leaning into the silliness. He’s a grating, presence in the film whose actions would be more fitting for the secondary character instead of the lead.

Devine doesn’t have the kind of magnetic comedic personality that can make some of Owen’s questionable choices tolerable. This squanders some scenes that would play better if Devine approached them with more nuance.

Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) provides some reliable humor as federal agent Oldham, who’s been pursuing the mysterious bank robbers for decades.

Thankfully, director Tyler Spindel (The Wrong Missy) has Brosnan and Barkin to lean on to get through some of the weaker moments.

It’s not a shock that Brosnan and Barkin are able to steer the film through respectability in their scenes. Their effortless coolness suggests the film had a more effective take if Billy and Lilly were the leads forced to endure their annoying tagalong sidekick, Owen, in order to keep Parker safe.

While it has several funny bits, the real crime is Brosnan and Barkin don’t get nearly enough screen time to take this premise to a higher level.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Photo Credit: Netflix