Review of The Hustle (2019): A Clever Con Comedy
I must say, this American comedy is quite entertaining, from its engaging plot to its visually appealing cast. However, it received surprisingly low ratings from audiences, which left many disappointed. Personally, I found it far more enjoyable than its lackluster scores suggest, though I can understand why some might feel otherwise.
Plot Summary of The Hustle
The film follows two con artists, Brigitte Desjardins (Ingrid Oliver) and Penny Rust (Rebel Wilson), who cross paths on a train to the affluent town of Beaumont-Sur-Mer, where they plan to swindle wealthy targets. Despite their contrasting personalities and unique skill sets, they clash immediately, each trying to outwit the other from the moment they meet.
Penny soon realizes she’s been duped when she scams a rich man targeted by Brigitte’s crew. In retaliation, Brigitte tricks Penny into leaving town to clear the way for her own schemes. But Penny, after being conned again by Brigitte’s scheme involving a swapped necklace and a man named Raffaello Degruttola, returns to confront her. She demands Brigitte teach her advanced con techniques and proposes a partnership, leveraging a threat from a man Penny previously scammed.
Reluctantly, Brigitte mentors Penny, and they team up for a series of cons. However, tensions rise when Brigitte refuses to share the profits, leading to a heated argument. While bickering by a lake, they encounter a waiter who they learn is a wealthy tech mogul. They bet on who can swindle him first, but their elaborate schemes backfire, resulting in hilarious mishaps.
As the story unfolds, Penny develops genuine feelings for the waiter and decides to abandon the con, informing Brigitte she no longer wants to exploit him. Unwilling to let go, Brigitte challenges Penny to a new bet: whoever wins the waiter’s affection first will claim victory. Brigitte tries to seduce him, but he remains unmoved. In a twist, Penny misunderstands a situation, believing Brigitte and the waiter spent the night together, and decides to leave, heartbroken.
Before departing, Penny learns the waiter transferred $500,000 to Brigitte for a supposed eye treatment. Feeling betrayed, she wires the same amount back to him as a gesture of “affection.” As her plane takes off, Brigitte tries to stop the waiter, only for both women to discover they’ve been outsmarted: the waiter, a con artist known as “Medusa,” played them both.
Reeling from losing $500,000 each, Brigitte and Penny bond over their shared defeat, forging a mutual respect. Penny plans to continue her cons in Thailand, while Brigitte stays behind. In a final twist, the waiter returns with new targets and proposes a three-way partnership, setting the stage for more schemes.
Cast, Cinematography, and Sound
The performances by Alex Gaumond, Rebel Wilson, and Ingrid Oliver are stellar, with each actor embodying their role as a seasoned con artist with flair. Their facial expressions and comedic timing shine, though Gaumond’s performance feels slightly stiff in the final scenes, particularly when he introduces new victims. Still, he fulfills his role effectively.
Supporting characters, like Brigitte’s butler and bodyguard, have limited screen time, appearing mostly for comic relief or to assist Brigitte. Their minimal presence feels like a missed opportunity, as they serve primarily to elevate the main trio without standing out.
With a runtime of just 1 hour and 33 minutes, the brief appearances of these side characters are understandable, if a bit underwhelming. The film’s setting, a picturesque island town, is visually striking, though the locations are mostly confined to a hotel, casino, and mansion. Only the opening and closing scenes venture elsewhere, leaving me wanting more variety.
The soundtrack is lively and well-paced, complementing the film’s tone. An animated opening sequence adds a playful touch, highlighting the contrasting personalities of the leads and piquing the audience’s curiosity.
Review of The Hustle
One point of contention for some viewers is the romance between the waiter and Penny, a plus-sized character, which some felt leaned too heavily into feminist themes. If the waiter had fallen for Brigitte instead, it might have diminished Penny’s role and reduced the film’s comedic moments. While feminism isn’t unfamiliar in Vietnamese society, overemphasizing it risks making the film feel like a soapbox rather than a lighthearted con comedy. This may explain its low IMDb score.
That said, aside from the romance’s feminist undertones, the film is solid. IMDb ratings don’t always reflect quality—plenty of great films score poorly, while mediocre ones get inflated praise. The humor here is a standout, marking it as one of the funniest comedies I’ve seen in years. The dubbed version and cheeky subtitles add to its charm, making it a memorable watch.
The plot is straightforward, with little depth, and the dialogue can feel long-winded or overly simplistic at times. Some scenes, where men are easily swayed by Penny’s lies, Brigitte’s tearful eyes, or the waiter’s smooth talk, border on absurd, painting men as gullible. Yet, the ending reveals this as intentional, showing the women’s overconfidence after successful cons, only to be outdone themselves.
Final Thoughts
As a pure comedy, The Hustle doesn’t aim for profound meaning, and its humor, while silly, doesn’t quite match the absurdity of some Vietnamese comedies. At just 90 minutes, it’s a perfect weekend watch with friends or family. Despite its feminist undertones and simple story, it’s a fun, lighthearted film that’s hard to resist for a relaxing evening.
