The Instigators

 

      Produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck (who also co-wrote the film), "The Instigators" is a very Boston-centric "heist" comedy that garners only a few laughs.

     The film is directed by Doug Liman (who directed Mr. Damon in the highly successful, "The Bourne Identity"). Combining all this talent, it's disappointing that this is a very lazy effort from all involved. There is little character development in the leads and the story is claustrophobic in it's Boston setting. It's as if a bunch of high profile friends said, "let's take Apple's money and spend a few week having some fun in our beloved Boston".

      The film co-stars Hong Chau (the best thing about the film), Paul Walter Hauser as a stereotypic "dumb" criminal, Ving Rhames, who seems to be unable to actually move unless he's behind the wheel of a supersized police vehicle, Ron Perlman, chewing scenery as a crooked mayor, and  Alfred Molina, Toby Jones and Andre De Shields, three highly respectable actors in very underwritten roles.

      Mr. Liman's direction is nothing special. Even the requisite car chase he stages is fairly pedestrian, having been done better in numerous films from "The French Connection to the "Mission Impossible" franchise. 

       The film is available only through streaming and if you don't have the particular service, don't worry you haven't missed anything.