'Ocean's 8' is Unabashedly Funny, Dainty and Criminal

Ocean's 8, Photo Credit: "Warner Bros. Pictures."

Everything is a heist for Debbie Ocean, and once she got out of prison, she hasn’t changed her ways. Her intentions on the other hand is another story, as she plans to execute the ultimate robbery 5 years in the making. She plans to rob a jewelry necklace worth $150 million, and she only needs eight to do it. No hims allowed,

The film starts with Sandra Bullock’s Debbie, the sister of the infamous Danny Ocean, trying to trick her way out of prison through her manipulative rhetorics, saying she wants a simpler life after her five years, eight months and 12 days of imprisonment. It's bullshit. She’s the opposite of simple like she claims to be. Good news is we are never led to believe that she's changed and instead, we are encouraged to be with her along her thefty ways. Voila, as soon she gets out of prison, she performs the easiest, funniest and my favorite among the neverending heist in this film, setting the tone of what the film has to offer.

As soon as she gets reunited with her partner-in-crime, Cate Blanchett's Lou, you can just FEEL the star wattage power wearing out on you from the silver screen. Their power is real or it's just me fanning. Bullock and Blanchett together are incredible, even when they do not do much aside from talk, be glamorous, and be unapologetically deceptive as hell. Blanchett in particular doesn’t have the most scene-stealing material, but her chill persona with a calm & collected attitude, is remarkably sexy and regal, enigmatic even. Different from her past roles, but first-rate as always.

Anne Hathaway as Daphne Kluger, and Helena Bonham Carter as Rose Weil
Photo Credit: "Warner Bros. Pictures."

Then there’s Anne Hathaway as the ditzy, narcissistic celebrity Daphne Kluger (are they shading Diane Kruger?), giving one of her best comedic performances to date. As soon as she gets introduced, the film assures that the audience is set for a hilarious ride. Hathaway delivers the sex and the laugh-out-loud laffos while adding beauty and glam to the overall dirtiness of the heist. We get to see what Hathaway is first known for and what she does best. Comedy. And here, she's a hoot.

The rest kick ass, they all do. Rihanna as the group’s hacker, may be silent but her scene stealing shot comes at the peak of their robbery when she is dressed incredibly elegant in the MET gala. How appropriate is that? Sarah Paulson as the team’s insider of the event is also great as expected, and Awkwafina’s comedics make a mark. There's something off about Helena Bonham Carter. She seems a bit out-of-place but okay overall, I guess. It’s Mindy Kaling that gets the least action but some of her one-liners are good enough to be remembered.

The comedy here is non-stop and so are the tricks. It's unabashedly funny, dainty and criminal all throughout the film. The heist, however, may not be as impressive as others, it’s pretty basic. Luckily, this is really a film about the cast and a job well done to Gary Ross and the ensemble for juicing out the best in each of them. No preachy statement needed, this film only wants us to have a good time.