November Criminals Movie Review

November Criminals (2017)

Buy November Criminals on Amazon // Buy the novel
Written by: Steven Knight and Sacha Gervasi (screenplay by), Sam Munson (based on the novel by)
Directed by: Sacha Gervasi
Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Ansel Elgort, Catherine Keener
Rated:PG-13
Watch the trailer 

Plot
Eighteen-year-old Addison Schacht deals drugs, doles out insults, and loves offensive jokes. When one of his classmates is murdered, Addison taps into his better self to begin an investigation into the slaying, aided by his best friend.

Verdict
The core of the story isn't bad, but it's bolstered by nothing and hampered by too many tropes. The movie fails to even attempt to deal with any of the issues presented. It's mostly a staid romance, with a dangerous vigilante investigation thrown in to stop the boredom.
Skip it.

Review
I knew hoping for something like Brick (2005) was definitely a stretch. Brick is great, this isn't. This leans too hard on the weird kid thing. Addison doesn't have to be strange to seek vigilante justice for his friend and it doesn't matter if he is a bit weird, but it's taken too far and that's all the character development he gets. While it could be the way he deals with the loss of his mother, it isn't explored.

For a lot of the movie he doesn't find much, and a big part of his story is the blossoming romance with his best friend. I wish the movie had made his need to find Kevin's killer about Addison's need for closure and tying that back to his mom's death. I just wanted something more.

There was a lot more to Kevin that Addison realized. It's pulling the rug out from under us as there are a couple conflicts with who we and Addison thought Kevin was and who he really is. It raises the question of whether you ever truly know anyone and that could tie back to his relationship with Phoebe. It doesn't.

The main story at it's core isn't bad. Addison basically runs in circles for the amusement of a drug dealer, but that same dealer is giving him clues. Why? When you begin questioning anything about this movie, it falls apart. It's the kernel of good idea with a lot of filler.