interesting story given decent treatment

Rating: 6/10 (6 February 2010)

The only thing standing between 21-year-old Ben Campbell and his lifelong dream of attending Harvard Medical School is the $300,000 in fees and tuition it will cost to go there. But Ben has a special skill that might make it possible to cover his bills and then some. It turns out he's a genius when it comes to numbers, and it is this talent that brings him to the attention of Micky Rosa, Ben's professor at MIT, who has come up with what he believes is a full proof system for winning at blackjack. Rosa invites Ben to become a part of a handpicked team of similarly gifted students who are getting some extracurricular lessons in how to beat the house at 21. Ben is, at first, reluctant to sign on to what seems like a morally questionable enterprise, but the lure of easy money and the appeal to his ego finally win him over. So off to Vegas they go to put their system into play. But can a clean-cut, wholesome boy like Ben stay true to his goals and principles once he's had a taste of life in the fast lane?
Based on a true story, "21," directed by Robert Luketic, is a slick, superficial, well-oiled crowd-pleaser that holds one's attention while it's playing itself out but doesn't provide much food for thought or emotional resonance after it's over. Jim Sturgess makes for an appealing protagonist as the acceptance-craving Ben, but the real acting here is done by Kevin Spacey as the odious professor who uses blackmail and bribery to keep his minions in line, and Laurence Fishburne as a head of casino security who may turn out to be the one serious impediment to the team's success. The script fails to make the card-game esoterica comprehensible for the lay audience - we're forced to accept way too much of it on faith - but hardcore gamblers will probably be taking notes for future pointers.
Plus, there's a great moment at the end that makes the whole shebang suddenly worthwhile.