The heist movie genre gets a hip-hop makeover in Takers, a movie loaded with as much style as ammunition.
A well-heeled gang of bank robbers, including Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy and bad boy musician Chris Brown, are confounding cops with elaborate diversions and thefts, clearly enjoying the ill-gotten gains. Their lavish lifestyles sharply contrast with the sweaty, streetwise detectives (Matt Dillon, Jay Fernandez) chasing them.
Everything's fine until a former accomplice (Tip "T.I." Harris) gets paroled, coming out of prison with a grudge and scheme to rob an armored car. Toss in the Russian mafia seeking a share of the robbery, and chances of macho posturing dramatically increase.
The caper isn't as complex as an Ocean's pick-a-number flick but involves a lot of C-4 explosives, a daring subway escape and some darn fine clothing. Dialogue and situations are familiar but it's tough to resist a snazzy montage of trophy babes by the pool, slick suits being donned and a rendezvous of bad rides and a slow-mo stroll toward the camera.
Cinematographer Michael Barrett goes too far with shaky-cam movements intended to goose the action. Takers has sturdily mounted shootouts and chases that could be appreciated more with a lingering view here and there. Barrett's color scheme is sharp throughout; gun-metal blues, white-hot flashes and all shades of shadows.
The cast is suitably charismatic, although their characters typically have one issue (a junkie lover, a score to settle) or a wardrobe statement (Christensen's jaunty hat) to separate them from the pack. Takers offers little that's new but remains entertaining throughout.
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