The Kitchen Movie Review

The Kitchen (2019)

Rent The Kitchen on Amazon Video
Written by: Andrea Berloff (written by),  Ollie Masters and Ming Doyle (based on the comic book series created for DC Vertigo by)
Directed by: Andrea Berloff
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, Domhnall Gleeson, James Badge Dale, Margo Martindale, Common
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
In 1970s Hell's Kitchen, the wives of New York gangsters continue to operate their husbands' rackets after they're locked up in prison.

Verdict
Heavy handed and uninspiring, it squanders nearly every chance to be creative. Women running protection is unique, but this movie doesn't want to investigate it or have any characters question it. It's an obvious question that no one asks. This even throws in a twist, but I don't know why as the ending is underwhelming.
Skip it.

Review
I began questioning this movie immediately as it starts with the song lyrics "it's a man's world" with each of the main characters experiencing sexism or abuse in some way or another. It's heavy handed.

What this movie needed was a clever way for them to undertake protection. What we get is a perfunctory resolution. Characters should question how the women will provide protection. Their husbands were gangsters. The women weren't. The first character that takes their protection states they don't who they pay. I just don't accept that no character would buck at the women providing protection since they have no prior experience.

The movie isn't well developed. It's not that this story can't work, there's no effort. How do they not see Little Jackie coming? This wants to be a buddy criminal movie, but it does nothing to build upon it. Their escapades get them noticed and they seem surprised. Their goal should be to stay in power after their husbands come back.

Elisabeth Moss's character becomes, or realizes, she is a sociopath, but that isn't built well either. She felt weak, was beaten up, and now exerts her power as a sociopath. Moss is a great actress, but the script doesn't give her much opportunity. If this move was about her journey to overcoming her trauma and becoming a sociopath I could buy it, but what this movie builds just doesn't work.

This throws in a silly twist which doesn't help anything, not even accounting for the weak ending. The movie gets worse as it goes along. The writing and dialog squander an interesting idea.