some violence, and sexual content including partial nudity
Run Time: 123 min
Nathan's rating - 2.5 out of 5

Review by Nathan Chandler for The Mungles on Movies

Copyright 2008 Mungleshow Productions. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

  Taken form the non-fictional book, "Bringing Down The House," Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is a brilliant MIT student whose only obstacle to getting into medical school are his finances. Picking up on Ben's strong mathematical abilities, Professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) extends an invitation to him to join a very unofficial club to learn how to count cards and earn some extra dough on the side. With a little coaxing from one of the team's members (Kate Bosworth), Ben innocently joins in hopes to win enough tuition money to achieve his dreams. What he doesn't account for is the consequences and addiction that accompany "Lady Luck."

Most audiences won't have too difficult of a time getting into 21, but I was consistently taken out of the story by its predictable nature. For a movie that is centered on gambling, it just doesn't take many chances with the plot. I can overlook clichÈd dialogue or characters if I'm put in suspense of where the story is going, but things are just packaged too nicely here. I did ultimately enjoy the conflict of choosing between loyalty and greed, but that is pretty much erased as Las Vegas is used as a billboard rather than a setting to support its themes.

  I've always liked Kevin Spacey, but cynics of his performances will have perfect ammo to use with his role as the unconventional college professor. He is just way to over-the-top and seems to be too much in love with the characteristics that make Kevin Spacey, well ... Kevin Spacey. Laurence Fishburne, as a casino enforcer, neither detracts nor adds anything spectacular to the film, and the same goes for Kate Bosworth. Thankfully Jim Sturgess is in the film and keeps up with the tone, which is all over the place at times. I see a potential great performance from him in the future and hopefully he'll have more chances with Oscar material than with 21-like fluff.

  Las Vegas does serve as some of the backdrop for 21, so parents will want to be aware that there are young, but legal, adults in an excess environment. The film's characters meet frequently in a strip club and there is a quick sex scene (both with partial nudity). Some language and violence also accompany the PG-13 rating. I know that sounds like a lot, but I felt that it was far and in between as the focus is more on the glamour than the seedy side of Vegas. Many people will probably overlook the faults that I got hung up on and 21 isn't the worst movie out right now, but I think it's one you can definitely wait for on cable T.V. I give it 2.5 out of 5 hand signals.

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Nathan Chandler is a video producer and editor who lives in the heart of Dallas. He has a knack for making awesome mix CDs and has a vast knowledge for movie trivia. When Nathan isn't writing or producing short films on the side, he is wishing he was on Survivor, rooting for the Cowboys, or making sweet tea runs to Chick-fil-a. You can reach Nathan at his blog. Nathan also co-hosts The Film Alcove Podcast. Check it out!