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Created Mar 12, 2015 07:36PM PST • Edited Mar 10, 2023 07:07AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Focus is a decent date movie, especially for fans of con-artist movies and/or Will Smith (and who’s not). More credit eludes it due to tortured plotting, unbelievable happenings and lack of romantic chemistry.

   As to that last, I blame Margot Robbie, the gorgeous blonde previously seen as DiCaprio’s trophy wife in The Wolf of Wall Street. She superficially dazzles in supporting roles, but lacks the spark of a true Screen Queen. If Audrey Hepburn in Charade is the perfect standard, and she is, then Robbie is halfway standard.

   Bottom Line
   Focus overflows with eye-candy: glitzy settings, hot cars, hot women, Will Smith with his shirt off, a lot.
   Unfortunately, it stumbles through the turns and underwhelms in the clinches. That’s no con.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Will Smith looks marvelous and still possesses superstar charisma. Pity he can’t find worthy projects. Focus isn’t a dud, far from it. In fact, it gets him back on track after last year’s disastrous After Earth. But it’s hardly a classic either.

   Margot Robbie also looks marvelous, yet doesn’t posses superstar charisma. Her moviestar career is still young, so maybe she’ll find a project that allows her to shine. Otherwise, a supporting actress she’ll remain.

   Supporters

   • Adrian Martinez provides some comic relief as a conman with a sharp tongue and weight problem.
   • Gerald McRaney is supposed to be crusty and tough, but comes across as merely annoying.
   • Rodrigo Santoro looks the part of Latin Formula One team owner.
   • BD Wong is amusing as a high roller. Wong is never less than solid.
   • Brennan Brown is recognizable yet forgettable as a member of the conman crew.
   • Robert Taylor is more sloppy than scary as a fearsome Formula One Team owner.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    The Sting it’s not. Focus does manage to trick us several times, so that’s good, but never with a delightful con. Nor does it endear its anti-heroes to us as it clearly aspires to do.

    It doesn’t stint on flashy settings, including one in New Orleans which scores nicely. After educating a newcomer to their ranks about various pickpocket routines, a crew of thieves works a crowd of revelers for watches, wallets and other booty, all overseen by Will Smith’s supervisory attention from a French Quarter balcony above. If the rest of the film continued with such verve, it may have stolen more hearts.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Good 3.0

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.2

    Not sure why Focus is rated R. Seems like it should be PG-13.

17. Sex Titillating 1.8

18. Violence Fierce 2.4

19. Rudeness Salty 2.5

21. Reality

    Glib 2.0

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.9

23. Biological Glib 2.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0