True love is Pierce Brosnan in a mediocre love-heist comedy, and that is exactly what The Out Laws on Netflix is. The movie gives off Meet The Parents, heist edition, sadly Adam Devine’s commitment to his signature comedic acting can’t save this movie from its soft laughs.
Produced by Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions and directed by Tyler Spindel (The Wrong Missy), the movie plays into the action-comedy genre with a universally recognized terrifying moment placed at its center: meeting your partner’s parents.
Adam Devine plays Owen Browning, a bank manager who is about to get married to his long-time girlfriend Parker McDermott Nina Dobrev. Conveniently, his bank gets robbed by the infamous criminal duo The Ghost Bandits right after the unexpected arrival of Parker’s estranged parents (played by Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin), which causes Owen to have suspicions about his future in-laws.
As the bumbling detective Roger Oldham (played by Michael Rooker of Guardians of the Galaxy fame) struggles to uncover the truth behind the robbery, the cunning criminal Rehan (portrayed by Poorna Jagannathan from Never Have I Ever) wreaks havoc from the shadows. Meanwhile, Owen embarks on a quest to unravel the enigma surrounding Parker’s secretive family.
In this movie, the actor pushes himself to the limits, showcasing his hysterical physicality at every chance he gets. At points, he can be unabashedly obnoxious, though his performance stays true to his signature over-the-top style and embodies the nerdy-but-endearing archetype we’ve come to love from his work in The Righteous Gemstones.
Despite its evident flaws, The Out-Laws offers moments of enjoyment with its humorous lines and scenes. Richard Kind delivers a hilarious performance as Owen’s loud and unfiltered father, while Julie Hagerty portrays Owen’s soft-spoken mother, who comically equates being a yoga teacher to being a stripper, creating a perfect comedic balance as a duo.
Pierce Brosnan adds to the movie’s positive points, injecting fun into his role and making playful jokes about his iconic James Bond persona. Lauren Lapkus as the lustful bank manager and DeVine donning a Shrek costume and attempting a dreadful Scottish accent also contribute to the film’s humor.
The movie shines brightest when it allows its talented cast to showcase their charisma and embrace the slapstick comedy vibes that drive the narrative forward.
Unfortunately, despite occasional moments of comedy gold, The Out-Laws ultimately succumbs to unoriginal settings, lackluster dialogue, shallow character arcs, and a squandering of talent.
The film fails to deliver as a truly funny comedy or an intense action flick, finding itself stuck in a mundane state without any allure or creativity. It’s disheartening to see yet another inconsequential comedy from Netflix that fails to fully utilize its remarkable cast and the potential of its occasionally promising ideas.
If the entire cast of The Out-Laws had matched DeVine’s energy and enthusiasm, perhaps the outcome would have been different. However, the film falls short, offering nothing more than a forgettable night of mildly amusing laughs.