‘Breaking and Re-entering’ Shakes Up Heist Movies In Fun Ways

The 2024 version of the New York Asian Festival runs July twelfth to July twenty eighth. Comply with together with our protection here.

Heist movies are available in quite a lot of flavors, from the intense to the comedic, from the informal to the action-oriented, however the one widespread denominator amongst them is that this — they’re centered on the frilly methods and plans by which thieves steal no matter it’s they’re after. You understand, like a heist. Director Leo Wang took that reality as a problem for his second function movie, a wildly energetic and goofy motion/comedy referred to as Breaking and Re-entering, and the end result simply could be the closest factor you’ll discover to a Steven Soderbergh Ocean’s movie that isn’t truly a Steven Soderbergh Ocean’s movie.

Chang Bo-chun (Chen Bolin) leads his small, four-man workforce of thieves by way of an elaborate and finally profitable heist nabbing thousands and thousands in money, they usually’re shortly on their means residence. The tip. Besides it’s not, as a result of they instantly uncover that they’ve been arrange by the person who employed them. Seems Chen Hai-jui (Wu Kang-ren) is definitely the person on the prime of the financial institution they only robbed, and never solely is he planning on taking the entire cash, however he’s additionally going to have the 4 males killed. Even worse? He’s going to pin the entire thing on an worker named Shen Shu-wen (Cecilia Choi), who simply occurs to be an outdated flame of Chang’s whom he nonetheless loves. The one factor to do now could be break again into the financial institution, return all the cash, and one way or the other keep away from the wrath of the banker. Simple peasy, proper?

The fantastic thing about a reverse heist movie is that expectations exit the window. We’ve already seen an elaborate heist dedicated, and returning all of it requires a complete new plan with its personal dangers, pitfalls, and risks. Wang is aware of Breaking and Re-entering has to play double responsibility right here, and he’s greater than as much as the duty. It’s a enjoyable, energetic journey with charismatic characters and massive laughs whereas additionally being light-weight and goofy as hell. That final half isn’t a unfavourable, although, because the silliness not often hinders the movie’s quite a few strengths.

Heist movies usually have an ensemble at their core, and Wang’s function continues that development with a enjoyable group, every with their very own distinct skillsets and personalities. Chang is the chief, the self-less thief who took the autumn for his workforce beforehand and spent 5 years behind bars consequently. Kent Tsai is Kao, the simply excitable pc nerd, and Frederick Lee performs the workforce’s grasp of disguise, Uncle Bin. Each performers are clearly having fun with themselves, and, to indicate simply how foolish the movie is, Kao even says at one level that folks maintain mistaking him for Kent Tsai. JC Lin stars because the movie’s motion lead, Wen-hao, a powerful fighter and knife fanatic all the time desperate to caught somebody. The standout, although, not less than on the subject of the laughs, is Wu’s villain. He’s a hands-off kinda man, a Taiwanese success story educated in America, residing off daddy’s cash, and seeing himself excessive above everybody round him — however he’s not practically as good as he thinks he’s.

The romance between Chang and Shen is arguably a bit shortchanged as their reunion strikes them shortly again into one another’s arms. She’s initially upset about him ghosting her 5 years in the past, however she has a really quick reminiscence. The simplicity and shallowness are par for the course in Breaking and Re-entering, however whereas it retains the movie from discovering any actual emotional weight, it’s principally on par with different movies of this sort as the main target is the quick thrills and enjoyable occasions. That stated, Wen-hao has one thing of an affection for Chang that, whereas by no means explicitly said as homosexual, is introduced with sufficient heat and humor to land with a welcome sweetness.

Wang retains issues shifting at an actual clip — one more reason the movie stays so mild as there’s little time for something deeper or heavier — and, as with the Soderbergh heist movies that impressed him, he masses the again finish with rewinds, flashbacks, spring forwards, and extra. It may be a bit dizzying when you’re not paying consideration, and it grows more and more ridiculous too. Breaking and Re-entering is a not a movie destined to present thieves any concepts, because the concepts listed here are all off the rattling wall. It wouldn’t work in a critical thriller, however the visible gags and narrative nonsense assist ship a goofily entertaining (reverse) heist flick.

The 2024 version of the New York Asian Festival runs July twelfth to July twenty eighth. Comply with together with our protection here.

Associated Subjects: Heist, NYAFF

Rob Hunter has been writing for Movie Faculty Rejects since earlier than you had been born, which is bizarre seeing as he is so rattling younger. He is our Chief Movie Critic and Affiliate Editor and lists ‘Broadcast Information’ as his favourite movie of all time. Be at liberty to say hello when you see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.