Fun Caper flick that is a genuine Homage to the Original

Rating: Null/10 (21 June 2003)

Well, maybe I'm prejudiced, I Loved the movie - highly recommend it to Mini enthusiasts and Feel good Movie buffs. I went to the Cincy premiere of IJ with 150 other Mini Cooper owners (and 7 very nicely kept classics)! WE took up a large chunk of parking spaces oh'ed and ahh'ed over each other's motors and were feted with free Italian Job Mini posters and other promo material courtesy of CincyMini. We then filled the whole theatre, and proceeded to cheer madly whenever there was MINI action on screen. Early on Charize Theron side kicks a Classic Red Mini into a space just vacated by a motorcycle and the whole audience erupted into applause. It is definitely a genuine homage to the Michael Caine classic, but holds its own as a cleverly worked out retelling of the story. The soundtrack was well done and moved the action and story along. Too little of Donald Sutherland was augmented by a fine performance from the rest of the ensemble crew. The story was believable and well laid out. It was most refreshing to have real bright COLOUR production instead of the dark and dingy sets provided by the Matrix redo and the interminable RingsForever sagas. Anyone who doesn't have a giant screen TV will hate those films when they go to DVD. The one wish that lingers with this Italian Job is if somehow they could have resolved the incredible "Cliff Hanger" ending of the original as an introductory act for the new one. Oh, and it goes without saying, the MINIS were fabulous. I can't wait to see them nominated for the Golden Wheels, Oscars, and Happy Motoring Awards.
Cheers Jacques