21 and Stupid.

Rating: 4/10 (21 May 2015)

21 (2008): Dir: Robert Luketic / Cast: Jim Sturges, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Aaron Yoo: True story starring Jim Sturges who hopes to get into Harvard Medical School. He is recruited by a professor to join other students in Blackjack. He learns the basics of counting cards, which casinos take a dislike to when they clean up during several visits to Vegas. Fine setup becomes predictable with questionable attitude towards the consequences or just merely the payoff. Directed by Robert Luketic who previously made Win a Date With Tad Hamilton and Monster-in-Law. This marks quite a departure from his usual romantic comedies but certainly he proves that he can indeed scout other genres. However, his romantic comedies seem to elevate beyond what this ambitious premise ultimately reduces to. Sturges does a fine job as someone caught up in wrong and going full throttle without care or consequence. Kate Bosworth is an object of romance thus doing little more than being Sturges's girlfriend. Kevin Spacey plays the professor in what is a limited role but not without consequence. Laurence Fishburne plays the casino head security with ties to the Spacey character. He will do the standard pursuit but not without a great payoff. Very bland and certainly not as good as it should have been but it demonstrate how such addictions can lead to a downfall. Score: 4 ½ / 10