Strangers from a Train

Rating: Null/10 (17 January 2017)

Three friends disgruntled with their bosses conspire to swap murders a la 'Strangers on a Train' in this lively comedy. The film requires some suspension of disbelief as well as few convenient coincidences to click, however, it is an enjoyable enough romp since all concerned are clearly having a lot of fun playing their parts. In fact, if anything, the film is funnier the second time round knowing some of the hilarious set-ups to come. Kevin Spacey sizzles as a condescending boss, Jamie Foxx is great as their 'coach', and Colin Farrell has some truly wacky scenes as the slackest boss in the film - though his best moments come in the blooper reel played during the end credits. Donald Sutherland on the other hand is sadly under-used and Jennifer Aniston is never credible, but most of the performances work. The chemistry between the friends feels real too, and the script smartly gives the trio all of the funniest scenes rather than letting the bigger name boss actors steal the best parts. It also wonderful to see the film so happy to acknowledge its influences and origins with not only 'Strangers on a Train', but 'Throw Momma from a Train' also mentioned. If slow to warm up, this is possibly the funniest treatment that a swapping murders story has ever gotten, though one wonders what Hitchcock would make of it if he knew that his legacy had borne comedies full of crude jokes like this like this.