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New Movies: Wolfs (2024) by Jon Watts

  • Writer: dailyentertainment95
    dailyentertainment95
  • 5 hours ago
  • 8 min read

"Wolfs (2024)": Clooney and Pitt Reunite as Reluctant Fixers in High-Stakes Action-Comedy

Description: From director Jon Watts ("Spider-Man: Homecoming" trilogy), "Wolfs (2024)" marks the highly anticipated on-screen reunion of Hollywood heavyweights George Clooney and Brad Pitt. This action-comedy-thriller thrusts two seasoned "lone wolf" fixers into an unexpected partnership when a high-stakes cleaning job in a luxurious New York City apartment goes awry, forcing them to contend with an unforeseen witness and each other.

Detailed Summary: "Wolfs" centers on two highly professional "fixers," individuals specialized in discreetly handling messy situations, who operate strictly alone. George Clooney and Brad Pitt portray these characters, each accustomed to working in solitude. However, circumstances dictate that they are both assigned to the same seemingly straightforward "cleaning" job—a delicate situation in a lavish New York City apartment. What begins as a routine task quickly devolves into chaos when an unexpected witness emerges, complicating their meticulously planned operation. Forced to collaborate despite their individualistic natures and contrasting methods, the two lone wolves must navigate the high-pressure situation, evade the witness, and contend with their own clashing personalities, leading to a blend of intense action, comedic friction, and thrilling suspense.

Plot Summary:

  • Two independent "fixers" are assigned to the same high-stakes "cleaning" job in a luxurious New York City apartment.

  • An unexpected witness complicates their mission.

  • The two lone wolves are forced to team up despite their contrasting methods.

  • They must deal with the witness and their own clashing personalities while completing the job.

The plot is a high-stakes action-comedy-thriller about forced collaboration and unexpected challenges.

Director's Vision: Jon Watts, known for successfully balancing action, humor, and compelling narratives in his "Spider-Man" films and the thriller "Cop Car," brings his signature style to "Wolfs." His vision for the film leverages the dynamic chemistry between George Clooney and Brad Pitt, creating an action-comedy that capitalizes on their star power and their established comedic timing. Watts aims to deliver a thrilling and entertaining experience by placing two independent, self-reliant characters in a situation where they are forced to rely on each other. The film is expected to combine Watts' knack for slick action sequences with sharp dialogue and situational humor, exploring themes of unexpected partnership and navigating chaos.

Themes:

  • Forced Collaboration: Two characters accustomed to working alone must learn to cooperate.

  • Unexpected Situations: The plot is driven by the unforeseen emergence of a witness, disrupting a planned operation.

  • Professionalism vs. Personalities: The film explores the clash between the characters' professional demeanor and their individual quirks.

  • Crime and Consequences: The backdrop of a "cleaning job" implies criminal activity and the dangers associated with it.

  • Trust and Mistrust: The dynamic between the two fixers likely involves an evolving sense of trust or lack thereof.

  • Action and Comedy: The film blends these genres, with humor often arising from the high-stakes situations and the characters' interactions.

Key Success Factors:

  • Star Power Reunion: The on-screen pairing of George Clooney and Brad Pitt after years is a major draw.

  • Proven Director in Genre: Jon Watts' track record in action and comedy-thrillers bodes well for the film.

  • Intriguing Premise: The concept of two lone wolves forced to team up provides inherent dramatic and comedic potential.

  • High Production Value: As an Apple Original Film with major stars, it's expected to have significant production quality.

  • Blend of Genres: The combination of action, comedy, and thriller elements aims for broad audience appeal.

Summary Short: Jon Watts' "Wolfs (2024)" is an action-comedy-thriller reuniting George Clooney and Brad Pitt as two "lone wolf" fixers forced to team up when a high-stakes cleaning job in NYC goes wrong due to an unexpected witness. Produced by Apple Original Films and released by Sony Pictures Releasing, it hits theaters on September 20, 2024.

Critics Reception

  • Rotten Tomatoes: The film holds a 67% positive rating based on 177 critics' reviews, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The consensus highlights the "professional star power" of Clooney and Pitt, giving "Wolfs zip even when it cycles through clichés of the fixer genre, making for a pleasing and slick throwback."

  • Metacritic: "Wolfs" received a score of 60 out of 100, based on 51 critic reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews."

  • IMDb: While not a traditional critic site, IMDb aggregates critic summaries and user reviews. The general sentiment among critics noted there is that "Wolfs" is "lauded for Brad Pitt and George Clooney's chemistry, making it a fun, light-hearted action-comedy. The film's humor and banter between the leads are highlights. However, the plot is criticized for being predictable and lacking depth, overly reliant on the stars' charisma."

Summary of Critic Reception: Critics largely agree that the undeniable chemistry and star power of Brad Pitt and George Clooney are the film's strongest assets, making it an enjoyable watch for fans of the actors and those seeking casual entertainment. The film is often described as a sleek, stylish comedy-thriller that offers plenty of entertaining banter and a fun dynamic between its leads. However, a recurring criticism is the predictable and sometimes underdeveloped plot, with some reviewers finding the film overly reliant on the stars' charisma to carry a generic or clichéd narrative. Action sequences are generally deemed well-executed but not innovative, and supporting characters are often seen as underwritten.

Reviews

Reviews for "Wolfs" echo many of the sentiments from the critical reception, often highlighting the strengths and weaknesses in similar terms across various platforms.

  • IMDb (User Reviews): User reviews on IMDb tend to be more polarized, with many viewers praising the film specifically for the "great short story that allows Brad Pitt and George Clooney to just be the good friends that work really well together to have fun together." Many users found the "natural banter" and "comedic skills" of the lead actors to be the primary reason to watch, describing it as "engaging" and "funny." Some users felt it was "very well paced, had a bit of humour when required and the actors did really well." However, some user reviews also found it "mediocre and lazy," with a plot that "makes no sense" and relies too heavily on the stars' "Oceans 11 banter."

  • Reddit (e.g., r/themoviejunkiedotcom, r/movies): Discussions on Reddit also reflect the divide. Many acknowledge that Clooney and Pitt's chemistry is the film's saving grace, calling it "fun" and "entertaining" despite a "shamelessly dependent" script. Some describe it as a "borefest" with "lazily written" dialogues, while others highlight the visuals and the "effervescent, goofy but endearing and extremely likable acting performance of Austin Abrams" as a standout.

  • Film-specific Review Sites (e.g., Empire Magazine, Film Ireland Magazine, Dead End Follies): These sites generally concur with the sentiment that the film's success hinges on its leading duo. Empire Magazine noted, "Clooney and Pitt's chemistry is never in doubt," even if the film around them "could have used some tightening." Film Ireland Magazine similarly stated, "the chemistry and charisma of Pitt and Clooney elevates the underwritten and sometimes messy screenplay." Dead End Follies described it as "just alright," existing to "showcase George Clooney and Brad Pitt's insane on screen chemistry" but acknowledging the screenplay is "average (borderline mediocre)."

Summary of Reviews: The overarching theme in both professional and user reviews is that "Wolfs" is a star vehicle for George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Their established camaraderie, witty banter, and self-deprecating humor are consistently praised as the film's main draw, making it a watchable and often enjoyable experience. Many acknowledge that without their star power, the film's conventional plot and occasional pacing issues might be more glaring. While it may not break new ground or be a cinematic masterpiece, it generally delivers on the promise of seeing two popular actors share the screen in a light-hearted, action-comedy setting.

Production: "Wolfs (2024)" is an American production, a collaboration between Apple Original Films, George Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures, and Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment. Jon Watts wrote and directed the film. Producers include George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Jon Watts. The stellar cast features George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams, and Poorna Jagannathan. Apple Original Films developed the film for streaming, while Sony Pictures acquired the theatrical distribution rights globally. The film has a runtime of 106 minutes.

Production Companies:

  • Apple Original Films

  • Smokehouse Pictures

  • Plan B Entertainment

Sales Companies:

  • Apple Original Films (for streaming rights)

  • Sony Pictures (for theatrical distribution rights)

Distribution Companies:

  • Columbia Pictures (US Theatrical)

  • Sony Pictures Releasing (International Theatrical)

Why to Recommend This Movie:

  • Iconic Duo Reunion: The highly anticipated return of George Clooney and Brad Pitt together on screen.

  • Action-Comedy-Thriller Blend: Promises an exciting mix of genres, appealing to a wide audience.

  • From a Proven Director: Jon Watts' track record with successful action and comedic films.

  • High Production Value: An Apple Original Film backed by major talent and studios.

  • Engaging Premise: Two rival fixers forced to work together offers inherent dramatic and comedic tension.

Why to Watch Movie:

  • If You Are a Fan of George Clooney or Brad Pitt: See their long-awaited on-screen collaboration.

  • Enjoy Action-Comedies: Expect a film with thrilling sequences and sharp humor.

  • Looking for a High-Stakes Thriller: The plot promises suspense and unexpected turns.

  • Appreciate Director Jon Watts' Work: See his venture outside the superhero genre.

  • Interested in Star-Driven Studio Films: A major Hollywood production with significant star power.

What Movie Trend film is Following: Buddy Action-Comedies / Star-Driven Vehicles / Theatrical-to-Streaming Hybrid Releases: The film fits squarely within the tradition of buddy action-comedies, updated with a high-stakes thriller element. It is also a prime example of a major studio film heavily reliant on the star power of its lead actors. Furthermore, its planned theatrical release followed by streaming on Apple TV+ exemplifies the evolving hybrid release strategies in the industry.

What Big Social Trend is Following: The Continued Influence of Celebrity Culture and Nostalgia for Iconic Pairings: The film directly taps into the enduring fascination with celebrity and the nostalgic appeal of seeing beloved, iconic actors like Clooney and Pitt reunite on screen. This reflects a broader social trend of engaging with popular culture through the lens of established stars and their collective history.

Final Verdict: "Wolfs (2024)" stands as one of the most anticipated films of the year, primarily driven by the long-awaited on-screen reunion of George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Under the direction of Jon Watts, known for his knack for blending action and comedy, the film promises a high-octane, witty thriller about two "lone wolf" fixers reluctantly forced into an unlikely partnership. With its intriguing premise, an acclaimed director at the helm, and the undeniable chemistry between its two leads, "Wolfs" is poised to be a major crowd-pleaser. While critical reception and box office performance are yet to be seen upon its September 20, 2024 release, the combined star power and the compelling genre blend make it a must-watch for fans of action, comedy, and compelling character dynamics.

Recommendations for Film Makers:

  • Leverage Star Chemistry: The film exemplifies how casting iconic actors who have a history of working together can be a powerful draw and enhance on-screen dynamics.

  • Balance Genre Elements: Successfully blending action, comedy, and thriller requires careful pacing and tone management.

  • Focus on Character Conflict and Reluctance: The "lone wolf" characters forced to cooperate creates inherent dramatic and comedic tension.

  • Embrace Hybrid Release Strategies: Consider the potential benefits of theatrical releases followed by exclusive streaming windows for major productions.

Recommendations for Movie Industry:

  • Invest in Star-Driven Original Concepts: Films with unique premises that pair major talent can still be highly attractive to audiences.

  • Recognize the Value of Director-Actor Chemistry: Fostering collaborations between directors and stars who have a proven track record together (or an exciting new pairing) can be very lucrative.

  • Adapt to Evolving Distribution Models: Continue to explore and optimize hybrid release strategies that balance theatrical and streaming opportunities.

  • Promote Unique Genre Blends: Highlight films that creatively combine different genres to offer fresh cinematic experiences.


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