Review | Netflix's The Out-Laws - Future of the Force

“The Out-Laws is slow to get started but once it does, it becomes a crazy stupid fun comedy. And with some action thrown in the middle, you get a pretty good cocktail.”

Netflix’s latest film The Out-Laws gathers Adam Levine, Nina Dobrev, Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin for an action comedy. I had the opportunity to see it last week, the film is now streaming on Netflix.

THE PREMISE

(L to R) Pierce Brosnan as Billy McDermott, Nina Dobrev as Parker McDermott, Ellen Barkin as Lilly McDermott, Richard Kind as Neil Browning, Julie Hagerty as Margie Browning, Adam DeVine as Owen Browning in *The Out-Laws*. Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

Owen Browning (Adam DeVine) is a bank manager who is about to marry the love of his life, Parker (Nina Dobrev). Everything is perfect until his future in-laws (Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin) arrive in town and his bank is held up by the infamous Ghost Bandits. Owen believes it’s actually his in-laws who robbed his bank and this is when the problems start.

A SLOW BEGINNING

(L-R): Adam Devine as Owen Browning, Nina Dobrev as Parker McDermott in *The Out-Laws*. Cr. Scott Yamano/Netflix ©2023

The opening scene is an absolutely sweet sequence for pop culture fans and collectors alike. However after that, the beginning of the film is dull. It introduces Owen’s peaceful life but the jokes are not funny, it is a lot of boredom during the first twenty minutes. You are left wondering if this is actually a comedy and if the whole film is going to be like that. However, to my greatest surprise, it’s not. In fact, once Billy (Pierce Brosnan) and Lilly (Ellen Barkin) things do change. That’s when it gets fun. The film needs around twenty minutes to get started. And that may be a bit much for a film with a ninety five minute runtime.

THIS IS WHERE THE FUN BEGINS

(L to R) Ellen Barkin as Lilly McDermott, Pierce Brosnan as Billy McDermott in The Out-Laws. Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

Nevertheless, when it gets started, it really entertains the audience. It is the crazy stupid fun type of comedy which is exactly Adam DeVine’s style. He is at his best when he does this type of comedy. It is a film that you watch to have a good time with your friends or just on your own. Just sit and relax, you are in for a ridiculous ride. The humour goes crescendo. Once it starts, it doesn’t stop until the end. I actually laughed out loud several times. In the middle of that, throw some action and you get a pretty good cocktail. The action sequences are here to create even more humourous situations. Owen’s life turns into chaos with a succession of problems. It is just so ridiculously good.

CAST

(L to R) Ellen Barkin as Lilly McDermott, Pierce Brosnan as Billy McDermott, Adam DeVine as Owen Browning in *The Out-Laws*. Cr. Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2023.

Moreover, this film gathers an excellent cast. Adam DeVine is his usual funny self which I didn’t expect any less from him. He is so good at being embarassing, he brings the right dose of foolishness. His facial expressions are everything. Ellen Barkin and Pierce Brosnan form a great on-screen couple. They have the right amount of class and seriousness while still delivering the goofy stuff. In fact, Pierce Brosnan is the MVP of this film. He has this presence on screen that makes all the difference. When he is there you notice him and he owns every scene he is in. On top of that, comedy suits him well too. In contrast to Brosnan and Barkin, Julie Hagerty and Richard Kind don’t have any class as DeVine’s parents, they play the not cool embarassing parents. However, Nina Dobrev is just there. It’s not that she isn’t good, the script doesn’t use her character enough for her to have some fun like the rest of the cast.

VERDICT

The Out-Laws is slow to get started but once it does, it becomes a crazy stupid fun comedy. And with some action thrown in the middle, you get a pretty good cocktail. Adam DeVine is his usual funny self but Pierce Brosnan is the real MVP of this film.