When I first heard about this movie, it obviously looked like a fun film for the summer, nothing more. When it landed in the fall, quality-movie space, I assumed it was hoping to be Jennifer Lopez and Cardi B’s answer to Steven Soderbergh's original Magic Mike (2012) — at best. At worst, the story was going to remind us of Showgirls (1995) or Demi Moore's Stiptease (1996).
The verdict? It’s a ton of fun and better than all three of those films, but perhaps not as good as the quotes coming out of the Toronto Film Festival where critics exclaimed “one of the best movies of the year,” nor deserving of the attention from The New York Times, which recently explored Lopez’s promising Oscar odds. If you’ve seen any card shark or hustler movie in the past, the story is the same. (Molly's Game, 21, The Grifters and more.)
But Lopez makes it rain. Constance Wu, Julia Stiles and even Cardi B completely disappear when she’s on screen. After years of average film and TV appearances, Lopez finally matches the promise of Selena (1997) and Out of Sight (1998). This is one of those movies that the boys and girls are going to want to see. It’s going to do big business at the cinema and should do laps around the Goldfinch and It Chapter Two.
In a nutshell: Boisterous fun. Swipe my card, J-Lo.
Award potential: There is already Academy Awards buzz for many involved and mostly Lopez, but I don’t believe it. However, we should see a lot of her on the red carpet for a Golden Globes Best Actress or Supporting Actress Musical/Comedy nod however. She can go for supporting or lead with this role and her official billing.
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.
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