Knockaround Guys (2002)

Why would anyone watch a movie that features Seth Green as a gangster or any movie with Vin Diesel for that matter? Personally, I had very little interest in this film, but I wanted to see it because of John Malkovich. He is so funny and no one plays the bad guy, better than he does. As always, Malkovich was brilliant, in an otherwise awful movie. Knockaround Guys is the story of four gangster's kids, who are tired of being nobodies, and decide it's time to make a score of their own. A score that they manage to royally screw up. It's a good premise for a movie and it was written pretty well. They did a great job casting veteran actors like Malkovich and Dennis Hopper to play the crime bosses, but they really blew it when it came to casting their kids. Seth Green isn't believable at all, seriously, I think the little kid in the beginning of the movie could kick his. They try to cover up the fact that he doesn't fit the role by making him a drug addict, but it doesn't work out. Vin Diesel is another one, he may be terrific in crazy action films that hardly have any lines, but when the role is something of substance, and requires a personality, Diesel is the last person who should be cast. He is one of the worst actors I've ever seen, but there is a bright side. When Arnold Schwarzenegger first started acting, he was pretty terrible too, but after gaining some experience, he blossomed into a superstar, who gave us some great films. I hope the same can be said about Diesel in a few years, until then, unless you're a die hard John Malkovich fan, you can avoid seeing this giant mess of a film.

The Plot: Four Sons of big-time mobsters team up for one simple job: to retrieve a bag of cash in a small Midwestern town. Unfortunately, they get themselves into more trouble than anyone could imagine in Knockaround guys.My Spiel: Staring Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Seth Green, and Andrew Davoli as the 4 sons. This is a well put together group of actors that you could really believe to be friends. As I watched this movie I liked Vin Diesel hardass character, and have always been a fan of Barry Pepper from Saving Private Ryan movie. Though it's obvious that the movie tried to make you like Barry Pepper & Vin Diesel's characters more then any of the others. I have to say this movie was different stand on traditional mobster movies. Though it could of used some more ass kicking by Vin Diesel. My favorite Part was the bar scene with Vin's character talking his spiel about 500 fights and then kicks that guys ass. Though this movie was a good example of Enemy and friend. This was more of a movie of losing $h1t and trying to get it back in a small old country town, using the street smarts of there live in Brooklyn background. When worse comes to worse these guys just might be the best at this kind of group to get out of this disaster of random $h1t that's happened, or maybe they are just out of there element in this small Midwestern town, But doesn't help that one of them is going threw a crisis of if he wants to live this mob life to make his father proud, but with aspirations to be a sports agent failing because no one will hire him because of his name and his father's mob ties. Each of these 4 characters has a story and a solid background into each of there pasts and who that kind of person is.Knockaround Guys (2002) Review: 6/10

The story is pretty simple. The son of a wiseguy trusted his friend to bring like 500.000 $ back from somewhere. But his friend, who was flying the plane got a little high on coke and got a little paranoid, so he placed the bag with the money somewhere while he had his plane refueled. Sadly the bag got on another plane by mistake and well.. He and his friends go to the Town the plane went to. I mean it has interesting characters played by great actors like Dennis Hopper, John Malkovich, Vin Diesel and finally Seth Green. The movie consists of a lot of profanity, a bit of drug use, a little bit of violence. (something for everyone).. Well and it's just light entertainment. You can't expect too much of this movie. The main problem is that the movie itself isn't sure what it wants to be. I mean, is it a comedy or a thriller or what? My final thought: Even though it's produced by Lawrence Bender (Tarantinos Producer), it is NOT a movie that inherits the qualities of most of his other producing ventures. But it is still watchable and a nice avocation so lets say 6/10

I rented some movies this weekend and "Knockaround Guys" was a risk rent I call it, I never heard of it and wasn't that interested. But I mean, what a promising cast: Seth Green, John Malkovich, Dennis Hopper, and Vin Deisel. Being here on IMDb, I noticed that there were a few put downs on the film, mostly feeling that there was a miscast. Especially with John, in some ways I agree, he just couldn't do a good Italian accent or wasn't too threatening. But what can I say? I love the guy too much! Being a more update mob movie taking place into today's society, I thought it was very interesting. Matty is the son of a very famous mobster, causing him to loose job opportunity after job opportunity because of his name. When he finally decides to join the family business with his friends, they have a little stumble transferring money that is owed to an under boss that can cause Matty's father's life. Together he and his friends must get that money back in the best way possible: The Godfather's way of doing things! This was a great action flick and no, it's not really a decent mob movie. But I did enjoy it, maybe I was just in a good mood, but I feel that this is a pretty under rated film that should be given another chance. We'll just have to forgive John, you know he does his best! 9/10