Fun remake, but could've been better!

Rating: 6/10 (1 February 2005)

The remake of 'The Italian Job' is certainly not better than original, but it is actually a fairly easy film to watch. The original was problematic because there was no driving force to the plot- except the crime itself involving those celebrated Mini Coopers, and Caine's charismatic performance. In the remake, the plot is driven by revenge, and that works fairly well. Of course, the trademark minis are featured again and that works well in the climax! Although the location is changed from Italy to America! Mark Whalberg's Charlie Crocker is no Michael Caine's Charlie Crocker in this movie, and he doesn't really add much to it (I know Mark Whalberg has more potential than this). Donald Sutherland is short-lived as the new John Bridger. Charlize Theron is okay, and Edward Norton makes an okay villain (pity, you can tell his disinterest in the movie creeps into his performance every now and then). It was the supporting cast that actually makes this film worthwhile- Seth Green as Lyle, Jason Stratham as Handsome Rob and Mos Def as Left Ear! They all added the much needed humour and kept the story going, and were memorable support- unlike the crew in the original film which only had Crocker and Bridger as memorable faces.
F. Gary Gray, director of 'A Man Apart' (2003) and 'Friday' (1995), does well with the chase sequences, and the pacing of this film. Unfortunately, the main performances seem too restrained and lack conviction to make this film surpass the remake. Plot-wise, this version is better structured, but the original Crocker and the original Bridger are far more memorable. I think Gray could have aimed a little higher when remaking this movie! Purists may hate the remake, simply because it is a remake, however, 30 years later is a fairly big gap! It certainly doesn't dishonour the original like the remake of 'Get Carter' did! Like I said, not as good as the original, but easy and fun to watch! *** out of *****!