Lift

Lift (2024)

Runtime: 107 minutes

Directed by: F. Gary Gray

Starring: Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ursula Corbero, Billy Magnussen

From: Netflix

You know, I now believe the rumor that Netflix creates movies for those that surf on their phone at the same time. That story’s been shared online for a little while now, and while such a thought makes me nauseous as a film fan, from all appearances I didn’t have trouble believing it, especially after viewing some bad to mediocre Netflix original pictures. Lift wasn’t the worst I’ve seen in the category—is it still frustrating how dumb and preposterous this was, without much fun in the process? Indeed, it was. THIS is a movie for those that want to fold their laundry at the same time.

Lift shouldn’t have been so lame. It had a respected director in F. Gary Gray, a multinational cast of different ethnicities, and a famous face as the lead in Kevin Hart. Would you believe this is my first Hart movie? Heck, I haven’t viewed any of his stand-up… I only saw him in that viral clip of him and Snoop Dogg commenting on footage at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, including “a horse crip-walking.” Modern “humor” mostly isn’t for me, which determines what I avoid. This movie was at a disadvantage right away for my grandpa sensibilities with an opening setpiece revolving around an NFT and a mysterious Banksy-like D-bag artist, who probably isn’t as insufferable as the actual Banksy.

The ”plot” is that a group of antiheroes led by Hart lift art in schemes, but that is apparently OK as they only steal from those who “don’t appreciate art.” Sure, Jan… they are asked by Interpol to steal a crapton of gold from an airplane as it would be used in a stock manipulation scheme by the evil Jean Reno that would cause destruction… don’t ask, as it’s preposterous how he wouldn’t be arrested by the authorities for what seem like obvious actions. The entire movie is full of absurd, intelligence-insulting moments, and it's not even the zany goofiness like you get in some Fast & Furious movies or the wackiest pictures from India. The majority of my laughs was from laughing AT the stupidity on screen.

Instead, Lift is just so slight yet so exhausting at the same time as it barrels through the “plot” with these paper-thin characters in a movie filled with unmemorable action scenes shot in a modern style (meaning, not to my preferences) with plenty of lousy CG. With all the talent involved, this should have been better; Reno as the villain phoned in his role… in the first two acts, literally doing so. This was an inauspicious way for me to have first seen Gugu Mbatha-Raw in anything and while I don’t have the time nor inclination for any television series in general, Money Heist has to be a much more worthwhile genre effort from the lovely Ursula Corbero… she at least seemed talented enough in this flimsy role.

I get why you wouldn’t want to get too distracted multi-tasking if you MUST have something on the television. There just has to be better entertainment while you’re doing the dishes.