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January 12, 2016
Review: Band of Robbers

band of robbersTom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are perhaps, two of the most beloved characters in all of American literature, known for their sense of adventure, intelligence, and youthful spirit. In Adam and Aaron Nee’s comedy, Band of Robbers, we get to see what kind of men these two heroic boys have become. Still young enough to dream, and yet old enough to be forced to confront the repercussions of their actions as they spend the film illegally searching for a buried treasure that has eluded them for their entire lives, they learn that fantasy doesn’t always pay off, but sometimes, it does.

Kyle Gallner performs wonderfully throughout the movie as a down-on-his-luck Huck Finn who just finished his most recent stint in prison. Gallner, perfectly encapsulates the conflict of wanting to grow up and go straight, while still feeling the inescapable tug to follow his best friend Tom (Adam Nee), a crooked police officer, to the end of the earth. The contrast of the two characters carries the film, as does the fantastic supporting cast, led by Hannibal Buress, Matthew Gray Gulber, and Melissa Benoist.

The comedic style of Band of Robbers is as offbeat as its characters, and many of the best lines seem to be a product of the actors’ ability to play and improvise with one another. Whenever the plot, which is at some times waning and stunted, seems to fall short, the characters bring you right back in. You want to care as much as they do about finding the long lost treasure.  Additionally, the film is quite well directed, as the energy and atmosphere of the film really pushes it along.

Other than the stalling rhythm in the plot, the film lacked a surprise element. It was clear, from the very beginning, that Huck and Tom would eventually go their own ways, only to reconcile their differences by the credits, and while a classic trope such as this is not necessarily a bad thing, the movie would have benefited from a little more ambiguity.  Additionally, the romantic relationship between Tom Sawyer and Becky Tatcher (Benoist) had very little substance, something which wasn't helped by a strange plot twist which makes their whole romance seem improbable. Overall, Band of Robbers is a fun, easy watch that imbues you with the desire to return back to the stories that made these two characters so beloved.

Band of Robbers is in theaters January 15th, 2016

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Written by: Jonathan Sherman
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