21
BY Ryan LaMarca / 2008-11-07
"21" tells the story of a real-life student who after graduating from MIT University plans to attend Harvard Medical School. But gosh darn it, he just doesn't have the money. He's got everything else he needs: a 1590 SAT score, a 44 MCAT score, and a 4.0 GPA from MIT. But the real question at hand is: Does anyone really care? Who cares if this kid was so smart that he could go to MIT and then not afford to go to Harvard? In an attempt to generalize things, "21" is an unbelievably boring movie. Sure some "exciting" things may happen at times, but the entire narrative and plot break apart under any scrutiny. The interjected romance feels forced and the characters are unlikable.
Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is pretty much the perfect student and the ideal candidate for Harvard Medical School. The only problem he has is that he can't afford the tuition. When one of his teachers, Professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), realizes just how smart Ben is, he invites him to join his covert and super-special blackjack team. Rosa teaches the kids on the team how to count cards, a practice that while technically not illegal, allows them to cheat the system and win loads and loads of money in Las Vegas. But there appears to be some tension at work in the group between Ben and Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), and there's a secret connection between Rosa and the casino operator, Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne).
As previously stated, the biggest problem "21" has is that it was so entirely arid. And with a running time of 123 minutes, it extends itself beyond necessity. If a movie can have all of the spectacular feats that go on in "21" and still have a person come away saying it was boring, then there appears a serious problem. The math behind the movie is much too complex for anyone to comprehend, as is the entire card counting phenomenon. The characters are completely un-relatable, unrealistic, and unlikable. I had no sympathy for this Ben character whatsoever, nor did I care that he couldn't pay for Harvard or about his relationship with Jill. It was all simply nonsense.
It's a strange situation presented in "21" dealing with the ethnicity of its cast. The majority of the characters featured in the original book "Bringing Down the House" were of Asian decent, including Ben Campbell. However, intending to have a more marketable cast, the movie executives decided to make most of the characters white and relegate Asians to minor supporting roles. And ironically, British actor Jim Sturgess had to be coached to speak with an American accent to play his part in the film. In an interesting twist of fate, Mr. Sturgess, a Brit, plays an American who was originally an Asian.
"21" also reunites Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey who previously worked together in "Beyond the Sea" and "Superman Returns." Despite the jejune and prosaic material in "21," Mr. Spacey still acts professionally and consequently carries his scenes well. Ms. Bosworth, on the other hand, gives another standard, unenthusiastic, generic performance. Her relationship with Jim Sturgess leaves little room for anything to be hoped for as she meanders through the picture, seemingly oblivious to everything that's happening around her.
In "21," things get too technical, too complicated, and too confusing. Moreover, the biggest problem is simply apathy and boredom. As a result, I am at a loss for words to say any more about "21," other than I found it to be a waste of time and a poor excuse for entertainment. For a movie that began with interesting premise and a lot of potential, something went horribly, horribly wrong.
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