This under-par comedy noir from screenwriter Mike Vukadinovich and director Potsy Ponciroli feels like a script that the Coen brothers might have taken on while in one of their slack periods – and not just because Coen regular Tim Blake Nelson is in it.
Himesh Patel plays Will, a nervous rookie cop with a pregnant wife, Paige (Lily James); he has a new job in a sleepy, sweet little town; his cop partner is to be hardbitten cynic Terry, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, with whom he has a “training day” relationship on their first day out on patrol. Terry shows him the ropes, and says how easy it all is in this no-crime backwater. But while Terry is one day busy having illicit sex (while supposedly on duty) with his married girlfriend, partner Will has to go, on his own, and with his weapon drawn, to someone’s home where he misguidedly believes a robbery is in progress.
Will and his partner Terry find themselves at a crime scene – one that they create themselves. After a bizarre encounter between jumpy Will and the lady of the house (Traci Lords) ends in bloody chaos, and Terry agrees to help cover up the disaster and make it look as if a murderous intruder really had been there – and while smashing the place up around the corpse, as an intruder would, they find a big bag containing $1m in cash. If they themselves take this money, they figure, it will lend credence to their “intruder” story and they can split the money later when the fuss dies down. The owner of the house is local seafood entrepreneur Wallace (Blake Nelson) who has secrets of his own. His wife enjoyed the daily attentions of a masseur, Keith (Simon Rex, from Sean Baker’s Red Rocket), and police chief Murphy (Uzo Aduba) senses something isn’t right about the whole thing.
It’s not a bad premise by any means, but a noir romp, however bizarre and farcical, surely has to take place in a recognisably real world where there are plausibly real constraints on people’s behaviour. Having a hitman advertise his services in a local paint store is silly and unreal without being especially funny. Some good moments and a great cast, but this doesn’t come together.
To sunny South Carolina for a lopsided crime comedy about a dead housewife and a mountain of cash. Himesh Patel is Will Shelley, a rookie police officer who has a lot to learn about life in small-town America. His erratic mentor Terry (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) was supposed to show him the ropes. Instead, he left him on his own, and it’s after Will answers what he thinks is a burglary call at a local mansion that our nervous protagonist accidentally kills the wife of a wealthy seafood vendor (Tim Blake Nelson). An enraged Terry soon arrives on the scene to discover a basket full of cash in the living room. There must be a million dollars in there – will anyone miss it?
After the duo unwisely decide to steal the money, the community’s quirky residents are lured into a mad dash for cash. Greedy People walks, talks and swears like an old-school Coen brothers caper. Fair enough, but it has none of the wit, intelligence or imagination of one. Patel and James are a delight, as always, but the rest is just noise.
'Greedy People': A Plot That's Too Much of a Good Thing
'Greedy People' is a crime comedy in the vein of Coen brothers films like 'Fargo' and 'The Ladykillers', with a quirky, over-the-top style and dark humor. The premise is intriguing, but the execution falls short. The film starts strong, with a promising opening scene that sets the tone for the rest of the film. However, the humor quickly becomes repetitive and the story becomes convoluted and confusing.
A Cast That Deserves Better
One of the biggest disappointments of 'Greedy People' is that it wastes a talented cast. Himesh Patel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are both gifted actors, but they are given very little to work with. Their characters are thinly written and lack any real depth. The film also features Lily James, who, like Patel, is a standout, but she too is given a role that is more functional than engaging.
'Greedy People' Isn't Just Greedy, It's Also Lazy
The film's biggest problem is that it feels unoriginal. It's filled with familiar tropes and clichés, and it never seems to find its own voice. The characters make decisions that make no sense, and the plot twists feel forced and predictable. It seems like the filmmakers were trying to create a Coen brothers-esque movie, but they failed to capture the essence of their work.
The Bottom Line: Don't Waste Your Time
If you're looking for a funny and entertaining crime comedy, 'Greedy People' is not the movie for you. The film's chaotic plot and lack of originality make it a predictable and underwhelming experience. There are plenty of other films out there that are much more deserving of your time. If you're a fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Himesh Patel, you'll probably be disappointed by their performances in this film.
