The MIT Blackjack team was a loose affiliation of students and ex-students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard Business School, Harvard University, and other incredibly expensive educational facilities. From 1979 these scallywags and boffins attempted to beat casinos at blackjack all over the world, using means fair or foul. Their thrilling exploits in card counting have already inspired a documentary (Breaking Vegas) and a quasi-fictionalised bestseller (Bringing Down The House), while their multi-million dollar 1994 sting has become gambling lore.
The makers of 21 have Hollywood-ised the facts a little – Kevin Spacey’s crooked professor is now the brains of the operation, and Jim Sturgess’ hero desperately needs the money for med school – but this is a storming story, brimming with dramatic possibilities. As a movie it ought to be a series of thrilling monkeyshines to be accompanied by popcorn and giant packets of Revels.
It isn’t.
Like Lucky You and other recent dull-witted card flicks, 21 can’t make ‘action’ at the tables look any more exciting than completing a tax return. Those unacquainted with the devil’s picture book find themselves in the unenviable position of being lectured on the rules ad nauseum. Those who enjoy a flutter will find this ongoing exposition even more tedious.
But why do the filmmakers bother? It’s not like we see any play. Instead, we get montages and lots of them. Poker chips pile up. Vegas lights blink. Dream girl unhooks dress against neon skyline. The hero is having a good time with friends and money. Then he’s having too good a time. Then he’s not having a good time anymore.
This overly familiar trajectory might have worked better if it wasn’t stretched over the rack of two hours plus. Perhaps aware that the film was starting to drag, Legally Blonde director Robert Luketic unwisely works in a “crazy” farcical chase and a painfully corny love scene.
Despite these unlovely circumstances, young Mr. Sturgess shines like a proper star. What a pity his two biggest roles to date are this and the Beatles karaoke flop Across The Universe. Read the script first, kid.