Band of Robbers

BAND OF ROBBERS 
Running time: 95 minutes
Rated: Not Rated
Theatrical Release Date: January 15, 2016

”Band of Robbers” is, by all means, an updated re-telling of two of the most celebrated works by legendary author Mark Twain. The concept itself is may be familiar to some, but it somewhat succeeds thanks to its outlandish brand of quackish behavior. Even the film itself starts with a quote from Twain himself, which showcases the brand of humor itself.  Brothers Aaron and Nee have taken the characters of both Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer and reworked them into a plot that even Twain himself would be proud of.
Huckleberry Finn (Kyle Gallner) is a free-spirited convict released from a prison stint, and attempts at making a descent effort into following straight. He gets roped into a scheme by Tom Sawyer (Adam Nee) involving a clerk store robbery where it is believed a legendary treasure is hidden. He recruits his bumbling friends Joe Harper (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Ben Rogers (Hannibal Buress) to tag along with form, forming the “Band of Robbers”. If anyone has read the Twain story, you know that Tom Sawyer has always been sort whose mischievous deeds always land him in hot water. The modern day re-telling interprets this by giving in a ironic foreshadowing as Sawyer uses his position as a cop as a cover for his antics. However, if you’ve seen movies like this, nothing goes according to plan as Sawyer gets a new parter on the day of the robbery itself. She’s smart and ambitious, and is the daughter of a wealthy judge. Oh, and her name is Becky Thatcher (Melissa Benoist of “Supergirl” and “Whiplash” fame)

The film is divided up like that of a novel, consisting of a prologue, five chapters, and an epilogue. Much of the running time of the movie falls within the context of the five chapters, which tells of the story of Huck and Tom trying to find the treasure and avoiding the psychopathic killer Injun Joe (played by “Avatar” baddie Stephen Lang) in the process. Much of the film’s offbeat humor misfires at certain times, but the acting is palpable enough for it to get a pass. 


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