LIFT

US, 2024, 107 minutes, Colour.

Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington, Vincent D[Onofrio, Ursula Corbero, Billy Magnusson, Yun Jee Kim, Jean Reno, Jacob Batalon, Burn Gorman.

Directed by F. Gary Gray.

Lift is a lighthearted, serious escapade action adventure. It has been directed by F.Gary Gray, skilled in this kind of entertainment like the remake of The Italian Job.

The main surprise of the film is Kevin Hart in the leading role, the action hero. His delivery and speed is rather toned down from his usual action comedies. And he seems to be enjoying himself as a romantic hero with the criminal touch.

In fact, the film has quite an extensive international cast, British Gugu Mbatha-Raw as an Interpol officer, Australian Sam Worthington as her boss. And, in the supporting cast, Americans, Koreans, Latin Americans – and, a veteran French villain, Jean Reno.

And there are some attractive and exciting international locations, opening with an art heist in Venice.

That the core of the story is Interpol’s desperation to catch Kevin Hart and his gang, getting Gugu Mbatha-Raw to be part of the impossible heist of a cargo of gold, being transferred to Switzerland to the villain so that he can finance terrorists to his financial gain.

The gang is a motley crew, international, hackers, safe crackers, and a gentleman who can disguise himself and infiltrate situations, played by Vincent D’Oonfrioi. Part of the enjoyment is their working together, personalities, clashes, expertise, and/or combining to capture the gold.

And, of course, there is a romantic touch because the Interpol agent and the leader had been romantically involved in the past, leading to tensions, and the breakdown of tensions, especially with the success of the mission.

One of those lavishly produced action adventure pastimes.

1. Action entertainment? International, exotic, and impossible highest…?
2. The international cast, Kevin Hart more subdued, criminals, interval, villains?
3. The tone, the sequences in Venice, the introduction to Cyrus, his abilities, artworks, his team, the techniques of stealing?
4. The portrait of the team, international, personalities, talents, seeing them in action, execution of the robberies, the planning and their expertise, the final heist of the gold? Camilla as the pilot, Magnus as the safe cracker, Mi-Sun as the hacker, Denton, the aged gentlemen, his many disguises?
5. Interpol, the organisation, Gladwell and her role, her commitment, Huxley as the boss, Australian accent, demanding, seeing him in pursuit, the chases, failure, his determination, demands on Gladwell?
6. The situation, the arch criminal, wealth, Switzerland, Gold, supporting terrorists, his staff, the range of thugs?
7. The plan, Gladwell to go undercover, her previous relationship with Cyrus, their sparring, her meeting with the various members, reluctance, commitment, the various details of the planning?
8. The flight, arrangements with the plains, hacking, deceptions, alternate plans, hacking, the safe on the plane, getting the gold? The various steps, tensions, action sequences, in the air, on land?
9. The buildup to the confrontation, the criminal, assured, the authorities, the failure of his plot?
10. The group, bonding, the success, Cyrus and Gladwell – and the possibility for sequels?