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Knockaround Guys (2002)

As we approach the end of the year, this period is usually filled with a mixed bag of films. On the one hand, a lot of studios utilize this time to release some of their Oscar hopefuls, such as the recent Moonlight Mile and the upcoming White Oleander. Where as on the other, many of the lesser-known titles are being dumped to pave way for the holiday season blockbusters. So where does the Knockaround Guys fall?

Matty Demaret is always living in his father's shadow. The guy just cannot seem to get a break, as soon as the name Benny Demaret is mentioned during his job interview, he is automatically turned away in fear of being associated with the son of one of Brooklyn's notorious mobster. Since legitimate employment is out of the question, Matty decides to prove himself to his father that he is ready to take on more responsibilities in the family business.

After much convincing and an endorsement from uncle Teddy, Benny finally agrees to let one of Matty's friends, Marbles, to pick up an important item for him. Unfortunately, simple tasks never seems to go smoothly, and Marbles loses the bag in a small town during a brief stop. Not wanting to disappoint his father, Matty flies out to meet Marbles to try to recover the article, but soon realizes that he is in way over his head.

A glance at the cast list might give you enough reason to see Knockaround Guys, but don't let that fool you, because even with some of the most talented actors in Hollywood, the film is mediocre at best. Barry Pepper turns in a passable performance with his portrayal of Matty, but it pales in comparison to his previous work in Saving Private Ryan and even The Green Mile. Seth Green provides the much needed comic relief as Marbles, while Vin Diesel does what he do best, by playing the tough and muscular street fighter Taylor. Dennis Hopper's bit role as Benny is pretty underwhelming, not to mention John Malkovich's unconvincing part as uncle Teddy. These characters are shallow and underdeveloped, which does not help in the believability of their relationships with each other. If the audience has trouble relating to the on screen personas, it becomes difficult to actually enjoy the experience.

With an uninspired script and a muddled plot, Knockaround Guys is a big disappointment considering the people who were involved in the project. It tries too hard to incorporate the many common elements found in mobster and gangster movies, which ultimately contributed to the film's lack of focus.

- Zalasta

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