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From The Bourne Identity to Edge of Tomorrow, director Doug Liman has worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars on some high-energy action movies. And for his latest, The Instigators, he reunites with one of his favorite leading men for yet another explosive crime caper.
The Instigators goes on the run with former Marine Rory (Matt Damon) and ex-con Cobby (Casey Affleck) after a simple robbery doesn’t go as planned. What should have been a quick job quickly turns into a catastrophe—and instead of walking away with a whole lot of money, they end up escaping with a little bit of cash and a piece of jewelry that the former mayor will stop at nothing to get back. Desperate to escape the cops and crooks chasing them, Rory turns to his therapist, Dr. Rivera (Hong Chau), for help.
Neither of these would-be crooks is especially adept at pulling off the perfect crime—or any crime, for that matter. Cobby is mostly just an aimless drunk, and Rory just needs the extra cash. So when this simple job goes sideways, they end up bumbling their way through the getaway—whether they’re stealing an armored car with a guard still in it or posing as firefighters to break into City Hall. A whole lot of powerful people want these two guys dead—yet, despite their constant bickering, they somehow manage to escape, time after time. And, along the way, they end up blowing a lot of stuff up.
With their characters’ non-stop antics, long-time friends Damon and Affleck give the action a fun buddy comedy vibe. But while they have an easy-going chemistry that makes the film enjoyable, it isn’t broken up when Hong Chau comes along for the ride. Her character’s no-nonsense attitude makes her fit perfectly in the middle—the grounding force caught between the struggling dad and the fast-talking ex-con.
Together, the three stars—along with the rest of the noteworthy cast—make The Instigators an entertaining comic caper. Admittedly, there’s nothing about the story that makes it especially memorable, but it’s a fast-paced and amusing action movie that’s a good choice for some summer weekend viewing.
Summer is the time for action and adventure—and maybe some laughs mixed in, too—and The Instigators blends it all together for a fun-filled crime-gone-wrong caper. Whether you choose to check it out on the big screen or wait for streaming, it’s a wild way to spend a summer evening with your own friends.
The Instigators arrives in select theaters on August 2, 2024, before streaming on AppleTV+ beginning on August 9, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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