‘Breaking and Re-entering’ Shakes Up Heist Motion pictures In Enjoyable Methods

The 2024 version of the New York Asian Pageant runs July twelfth to July twenty eighth. Observe together with our protection right here.

Heist movies are available a wide range of flavors, from the intense to the comedic, from the informal to the action-oriented, however the one frequent denominator amongst them is that this — they’re centered on the frilly methods and plans by which thieves steal no matter it’s they’re after. You already know, like a heist. Director Leo Wang took that fact as a problem for his second characteristic movie, a wildly energetic and goofy motion/comedy known as Breaking and Re-entering, and the consequence simply is perhaps the closest factor you’ll discover to a Steven Soderbergh Ocean’s movie that isn’t really a Steven Soderbergh Ocean’s movie.

Chang Bo-chun (Chen Bolin) leads his small, four-man staff of thieves by an elaborate and finally profitable heist nabbing tens of millions in money, they usually’re rapidly on their means house. The top. Besides it’s not, as a result of they instantly uncover that they’ve been arrange by the person who employed them. Seems Chen Hai-jui (Wu Kang-ren) is definitely the person on the high of the financial institution they simply robbed, and never solely is he planning on taking all the cash, however he’s additionally going to have the 4 males killed. Even worse? He’s going to pin the entire thing on an worker named Shen Shu-wen (Cecilia Choi), who simply occurs to be an outdated flame of Chang’s whom he nonetheless loves. The one factor to do now’s break again into the financial institution, return all the cash, and by some means keep away from the wrath of the banker. Straightforward peasy, proper?

The fantastic thing about a reverse heist movie is that expectations exit the window. We’ve already seen an elaborate heist dedicated, and returning all of it requires a complete new plan with its personal dangers, pitfalls, and risks. Wang is aware of Breaking and Re-entering has to play double obligation right here, and he’s greater than as much as the duty. It’s a enjoyable, energetic experience with charismatic characters and large laughs whereas additionally being light-weight and goofy as hell. That final half isn’t a adverse, although, because the silliness not often hinders the movie’s quite a few strengths.

Heist movies sometimes have an ensemble at their core, and Wang’s characteristic continues that pattern with a enjoyable group, every with their very own distinct skillsets and personalities. Chang is the chief, the self-less thief who took the autumn for his staff beforehand and spent 5 years behind bars consequently. Kent Tsai is Kao, the simply excitable pc nerd, and Frederick Lee performs the staff’s grasp of disguise, Uncle Bin. Each performers are clearly having fun with themselves, and, to indicate simply how foolish the movie is, Kao even says at one level that individuals maintain mistaking him for Kent Tsai. JC Lin stars because the movie’s motion lead, Wen-hao, a robust fighter and knife fanatic at all times desirous to caught somebody. The standout, although, at the least in terms of the laughs, is Wu’s villain. He’s a hands-off kinda man, a Taiwanese success story educated in America, residing off daddy’s cash, and seeing himself excessive above everybody round him — however he’s not practically as good as he thinks he’s.

The romance between Chang and Shen is arguably a bit shortchanged as their reunion strikes them rapidly again into one another’s arms. She’s initially upset about him ghosting her 5 years in the past, however she has a really quick reminiscence. The simplicity and shallowness are par for the course in Breaking and Re-entering, however whereas it retains the movie from discovering any actual emotional weight, it’s principally on par with different movies of this sort as the main focus is the quick thrills and enjoyable instances. That stated, Wen-hao has one thing of an affection for Chang that, whereas by no means explicitly acknowledged as homosexual, is introduced with sufficient heat and humor to land with a welcome sweetness.

Wang retains issues transferring at an actual clip — one more reason the movie stays so mild as there’s little time for something deeper or heavier — and, as with the Soderbergh heist movies that impressed him, he masses the again finish with rewinds, flashbacks, spring forwards, and extra. It may be a bit dizzying if you happen to’re not paying consideration, and it grows more and more ridiculous too. Breaking and Re-entering is a not a movie destined to present thieves any concepts, because the concepts listed below are all off the rattling wall. It wouldn’t work in a severe thriller, however the visible gags and narrative nonsense assist ship a goofily entertaining (reverse) heist flick.

The 2024 version of the New York Asian Pageant runs July twelfth to July twenty eighth. Observe together with our protection right here.

Associated Matters: Heist, NYAFF

Rob Hunter has been writing for Movie College Rejects since earlier than you had been born, which is bizarre seeing as he is so rattling younger. He is our Chief Movie Critic and Affiliate Editor and lists ‘Broadcast Information’ as his favourite movie of all time. Be happy to say hello if you happen to see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.