‘Bandits’ Is Light, But Welcome, Fare

I have a crush on Cate Blanchett. As I watched Bandits, the new film from director Barry Levinson (Wag the Dog, Rain Man, The Natural, and many others), I fell hard for the Australian actress just as lead characters Terry (Billy Bob Thornton) and Joe (Bruce Willis) fall for Kate, the neglected housewife Blanchett plays in the movie. It’s hard to believe the stately, austere actress (who first gained public attention when she tackled the role of Queen Elizabeth to award-winning notices) makes her entrance in this flick energetically lip-synching to Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” as she whips up a gourmet meal for her heedless husband. Who knew she could be such a comedic whirlwind?

Terry and Joe are about the nicest two convicts one might ever want to meet. Sure, they both have their quirks — Joe has anger management “issues,” and Terry is the world’s most neurotic, nervous person — but it’s hard to believe they would ever hurt a fly. Thus, jail is not for them... so they break out. But there’s one small dilemma: they’re wearing conspicuous prison clothes and have no money to remedy the situation. The only solution Joe can muster on the spur of the moment is to rob a bank at Magic Marker point (with no weapon handy, it’ll do in a pinch) and hightail it with the cash. Before you can say Butch-and-Sundance, Oscar-and-Felix or Laurel-and-Hardy, this quibbling criminal duo become bank robbing pros, using the federally-insured money to help bankroll their plans for a quiet retirement down in Mexico. Along the way, they also become outlaw celebrities, known as “The Sleepover Bandits” for their unorthodox manner of procuring the stolen funds by staying overnight with the bank’s manager and family (all in a gentlemanly manner) and then traveling with them to the bank in the morning using all codes accessed the night before.

Bandits has loads of fun with its set-up, giving audiences amusing sequences involving the anti-heroes, their methods and their peculiar disguises (Thornton in particular gets to wear a uproarious variety of hilarious wigs, ranging from a Neil Young number to an Axl Rose-like coiffeur). When Kate — who is brought into their plans after a run-in (or is that run into?) with Terry and becomes drawn to the duo by all the excitement — is introduced to the mix, the pot gets stirred quite a bit and the successful run of the Sleepover Bandits is threatened to come to a halt over jealous rivalries and as law enforcement officials ramp up their search in the belief that Kate is the duo’s hostage.

Just as Blanchett proves to be a pleasant surprise as a comic and romantic foil for Willis and Thornton, Bandits turns out to be more whimsical comedy/feel-good film than crime-caper as advertised. This is one of those pictures where you can easily imagine that all the principals had a blast making the movie (and that’s without any of the increasingly ubiquitous, self-conscious gag-blooper clips shown during a movie’s end-credits that seem to shout, “Look how much fun we had putting this together!”). The cast’s nimble frolicking with the playful material from writer Harley Peyton turns “Bandits” into quite a lark for the audience as well.

Bandits, rated PG-13 for language, suggestive content and violence (not graphic), is an amusing watch and a charming film. Though Willis, Thornton and Blanchett exude charisma and star wattage, they do not coast through the proceedings... and Levinson’s film is all the better for their efforts. Ultimately, this may be considered light fare, but it’s a welcome treat to see these pros in action.