Thursday, October 10, 2024

Wolfs




Wolfs (2024)

A Breezy, Star-Powered Staring Contest

★★½☆☆

A harmless streaming diversion that coasts on the familiarity of its A-list leads.

Directed by Jon Watts, Wolfs follows two professional "cleaners" forced to work together when they are both hired for the same job. It is fascinating to see how the entertainment landscape has changed; what used to be a mainstream holiday event film is now relegated to the [Apple TV+](https://tv.apple.com) subscription model. While it’s hard not to fall for the combined charms of George Clooney and Brad Pitt, the film struggles to find enough "meat on the bone" to justify its existence beyond the novelty of their reunion.

"Seeing the two stars bicker and debate honestly gets old pretty quickly and we start to long for the camaraderie they illustrate in the likeable Ocean films."
Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

  • Director/Writer: Jon Watts
  • Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt
  • Supporting: Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams
  • Platform: Apple TV+

The Vision

Jon Watts attempts to build a world of "pickles and piles" where challenges keep mounting for our two aging fixers. The bickering is clearly intended to be comedic, but the execution often falls flat, resulting in a lot of staring—staring at each other in disbelief, disgust, or confusion like dogs looking at a new toy. If you’re looking for a movie where two handsome men give each other a lot of silent, intense looks, this vision is exactly for you.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

  • Ocean's Reunion: This marks the first time Clooney and Pitt have headlined a film together since 2008's Burn After Reading, following their iconic work in the Ocean's trilogy.
  • Director's Pivot: This is Jon Watts' first non-Marvel project since his stint directing the MCU's Spider-Man trilogy.
  • Sequel Already Set: Despite the direct-to-streaming release, Apple has already greenlit a sequel with Watts and the leads attached to return.

✅ Pros

  • Inherent movie-star magnetism from Pitt and Clooney.
  • An easy, breezy, and harmless diversion for late-night viewing.
  • Polished production values typical of Apple Original Films.

❌ Cons

  • Repetitive bickering that lacks real comedic punch.
  • Thin plot that feels like an excuse for the actors to hang out.
  • Missing the spark and camaraderie of their previous collaborations.

🏆 Final Verdict

Wolfs isn't necessarily a "good" movie, but it’s a perfect "PJ movie"—something to kill time with before heading off to sleep. It coasts on the fame of its leads but fails to leave a lasting impression.

View original review on Letterboxd

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