Honest Thief Movie Review

Honest Thief (2020)

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Written by: Steve Allrich and Mark Williams (written by), Steve Allrich & Mark Williams (story by)
Directed by: Mark Williams
Starring: Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney, Robert Patrick, Anthony Ramos, Jasmine Cephas Jones
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
Wanting to lead an honest life, a notorious bank robber turns himself in, only to be double-crossed by two ruthless FBI agents.

Verdict
A serviceable premise that's over the top in all the ways action movie usually are. It never escapes the feeling that it's a fantasy world where no one questions the character's choices. This type of movie is Neeson's go to, but each one is less interesting. Courtney is a good villain, but it's a stretch that an FBI agent would go so far rogue that quickly.
Skip it.

Review
Neeson definitely has developed a type of movie. Most of his output seems like a various of Taken in a new location like Cold Pursuit or The Commuter. At least Honest Thief is less Neeson mowing down enemies and instead has him on the run. The change in formula is welcome, but this movie is still lacking.

Kate Walsh and Liam Neeson play Annie and Tom Dolan.

Tom Dolan (Liam Neeson) wants to pay for his transgression and start a new life after he meets Annie, attempting to turn himself into the FBI. Things quickly go off the rails when the FBI agents, Nivens and Hall, turn out to be corrupt. From there the movie turns into a cat and mouse game as the corrupt agents attempt to rip off Dolan and hide their crimes.

Anthony Ramos and Jai Courtney play Hall and Nivens.

This is a rote action movie that's a good idea, but just doesn't entertain. It's a big leap for Nivens to become a corrupt agent that takes money here and there to basically going on a murder spree. Did the FBI psych evaluation not notice those tendencies? Even his partner Hall is stunned at Nivens actions. It's not believable.

The movie goes for big shootouts in lieu of story, and it just doesn't feel authentic. How are Nivens and Hall involved in multiple shootouts and car crashes and no one in the FBI thinks to look into them. Nivens fires an entire clip on a suburban street. I have to imagine in real life he wouldn't be left to roam freely on the street without recourse after that. This could be a much more interesting movie if Nivens was trying to track down Dolan while also having to dodge the FBI. This could even create a scenario where Nivens is out for revenge for some perceived transgression by Dolan, some type of  Taken from the other side.

The movie ends much like you probably imagine, but tries to be too cute with dialog. I like the pieces of the plot, but it just doesn't come together.