Wolfs Review
Wolfs (2024) Film Review, a movie written and directed by Jon Watts and starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams, Poorna Jagannathan, Zlatko Buric, Richard Kind, Wael Alroyly, Linda Carola, Irina Dubova, Sammy Horowitz, Rob Riddell, Hassani Rizzo and David Sargsyan.
There’s a late scene in filmmaker Jon Watt’s new film, Wolfs, in which George Clooney’s character in the film is on a train and Brad Pitt’s character points out that there’s blood on Clooney’s shirt or jacket, I can almost remember which one. The viewer is supposed to believe that Clooney may have been severely injured in a shoot-out. I almost fell for it but then remembered that a sequel was announced for this new film and that Pitt and Clooney would most likely be returning. Therein lies the problem with the picture. The stakes are low because we know Pitt and Clooney will be coming back for a sequel. These two actors feel like they’re shooting the breeze here and there are no surprises in the way the plot turns out except how poorly the execution of the plot takes place at times.
Wolfs is a New York City-based movie that doesn’t even reveal a pivotal detail in the film’s plot until the moments when the end credits roll. It’s an example of too little, too late. While the trailer for Wolfs made the film look good, there’s little more to this movie than what is shown in those previews. This picture almost feels like it’s an extended trailer for something better all the way through.
In the movie, a woman who has a political agenda named Margaret (Amy Ryan) finds a young guy known as “Kid” in the film (Austin Abrams) severely injured after an accident occurs in her apartment. Pitt and Clooney play crooked “clean-up guys” who are supposed to make this all go away for Margaret and the kid if the kid is still, in fact, alive. Spoiler Alert: This kid doesn’t die after all is said and done!
Pitt and Clooney’s characters don’t get along at first and don’t even know the other exists initially. They end up cutting wires on surveillance cameras in a car garage with a potentially still alive body being sneaked out of Margaret’s fancy living headquarters. There are a couple of scenes where the kid tries to escape the clutches of our friendly but potentially dangerous “clean up” guys. Our older heroes chase the kid on foot and the pursuit is noteworthy because the kid is running around in his underwear in weather that is certainly not tailor-fit for running on the streets almost fully naked.
Neither Pitt’s character or Clooney’s character seems to understand why they were both summoned to Margaret’s apartment. So, as a result, there’s plenty of banal dialogue, insincere facial expressions and body movements from our leads here. It’s a bad year for villains too as Zlatko Buric’s Dmitry doesn’t seem to be too interesting compared to our central characters. Later in the movie when Pitt and Clooney have to dance at a wedding reception, it’s one of the few scenes that actually plays well. Dmitry comes on but for a mere minute or two here as the man whose kid is having the reception but Dmitry doesn’t register much as a character overall.
Brad Pitt and George Clooney have charisma even though they could have both done a movie like this in their sleep. Meanwhile, as the young guy character within the film, Austin Abrams turns in a nice performance that seems to fit the needs of the script when necessary. Being the supposedly vicious guys they are, perhaps either Clooney or Pitt’s characters will end up shooting the kid to cleanse themselves of the trouble that is going on because of the kid but because they’re both Hollywood movie stars, they may just turn nice. What do you think?
While keeping in mind that this is a star-driven movie for Apple TV Plus, things never get too out of hand except in a shoot-out or two near the picture’s conclusion that don’t provide much suspense after the filmmakers have revealed information that a follow-up film is in the works.
Pitt and Clooney are Oscar-winning actors and although both of their Academy Award wins are in the supporting category, they have excelled in leading roles in the past. This time out, they seem to be going through the motions and though they appear to be having fun, the viewer isn’t likely to enjoy much of Wolfs. It’s too dark in both tone and content despite its occasional comedy scenes. A much lighter film was promised to the viewer, judging from the previews.
There’s also the matter of the set-up to the movie, too, which is long-winded and lengthy. Although Austin Abrams is a smart and capable actor, he’s given precious little to do here as well. Wolfs plays like a run-of-the-mill male buddy movie throughout with the usual bickering and arguing before the buddies realize they’re going to be friends after all. This movie isn’t really below average but it takes forever to get going and once it does, it lacks agency and sufficient scenes of comical humor. Pitt and Clooney are capable of being much funnier than they are here. That being said, less demanding viewers may enjoy Wolfs based on the presence alone of the film’s two main stars.
Rating: 6/10
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