Oftentimes a movie will pick one sort of genre and stick to it, abiding by all the proper stereotypes and time-tested formulas. But occasionally a movie comes along that decides to gamble and throw all these elements together. The result can be either disastrous or refreshingly fantastic. "Bandits" attempts such a risky maneuver, with a result somewhere in between these two - not quite fantastic, but nowhere near a disaster.
Though there had been reports of this movie being based on a true story, such rumors seem to be about as substantiated as those that called "Fargo" a true story. So while this movie incorporates many of the tried-and-true formulas of the action/crime, comedy and love genres, screenwriter Harley Peyton and director Barry Levinson add enough twists to this original plot to keep it interesting.
Told mainly as a flashback by "Criminals At Large," an "America's Most Wanted"-style television show, the base plot for this movie is a story of two best friends, Joe (Bruce Willis) and Terry (Billy Bob Thornton), who, after a daring daylight escape from prison, decide to become bank robbers. However, these are not just ordinary, run-of-the-mill bandits. They are the "Sleepover Bandits," and they inspire a national love affair because of their unusual tactics of kidnapping and spending the night with bank managers before going to work with them and robbing their banks the morning after.
The scenes in which they are spending the night provide some of the most priceless moments of the movie, particularly in their first attempt. Through these unusual methods, the two become the most successful bank robbers in history.
Just as it seems that nothing will come between these two men and their dream of owning a nightclub in Acapulco, Kate (Cate Blanchett) a lonely and desperate housewife, slams (literally) into their lives. After she practically forces them to take her hostage as she strives to escape her boring life, the three fall in love. In what may be the movie's oddest turn, she spends a week alone with each, deciding that together Joe and Terry make the perfect man. As is often the case, the woman complicates the situation, and the movie ends as it began, with the host of "Criminals At Large."
As best friends Joe and Terry, Willis and Thornton complement each other perfectly. Joe is a straight-shooting, suave tough-guy who chases every pretty woman he sees, yet is never satisfied. Terry, on the other hand, is an analytic, verbose, constantly nervous hypochondriac who has never had the opportunity to come close to a pretty woman. Playing off each other's qualities, they make the perfect man. Thornton and Willis are the perfect pair for this. The buff and balding Willis provides aperfect foil for the smaller and more eccentric Thornton.
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As Kate, a walking nervous breakdown, the elegant and wonderful Blanchett proves once again just how good she is, managing to get every last drop of humor and charm out of each scene. Even the main supporting actor, Troy Garity, adds a charming and likable character to the mix as Joe's younger cousin, the getaway driver.
One might wonder, with all these great characters and actors combined with a brilliant director (responsible for the movies "Wag the Dog" and "Rain Man"), how "Bandits" cannot be absolutely fantastic. But as good as this movie is, as likable as the characters are and as original the script is, it just comes up a little short. And while the ending makes up for what was missing before, this is a classic case of trying to do too much.
While the laughs come steadily and the action keeps the movie moving, "Bandits" is one pivotal moment away from reaching the level of a really good movie. However, it's a refreshingly amusing and quirky movie, one that is at least good for a few laughs.
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