SLIFF 2015 Review – BAND OF ROBBERS

This new feature film brings up an interesting question: are literary icons timeless? Aside from science fiction tales, are they strictly a part of the era in which they were created? Ian Fleming’s James Bond began in the midst of cold war paranoia, but has been re-imagined and re-booted countless times to conform to more current concerns. This is certainly the case with Arthur Conan Doyle’s master sleuth. Sherlock Holmes, Victorian-era detective, has had great acclaim in modern times via not one, but two TV incarnations: “Sherlock” on the BBC and in the US with “Elementary” on CBS. Well, how about a couple of American grown literary icons, hey maybe the most American duo? Of course, that’s Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, creations of Mark Twain. Oh, and to make things a bit more interesting, let’s see how they fare in their early twenties. Such is the story of BAND OF ROBBERS.

The film starts with a flashback from a dozen or so years ago, when the boys were a tad younger than in the novels. They enter a house in search of treasure when the police arrive. Tom escapes, but Huck is nabbed, leading to years of lawlessness. When we bounce ahead to now, Huck (Kyle Gallner) is being released from his (hopefully) last correctional facility. And who’s there to pick him up, but ole’ pal Tom (Adam Nee), now a city police officer in his spiffy cruiser. Later that night, the two of them join some childhood buddies for a homecoming party. But Tom stuns the revelers with his plan. Bitter at being stuck as a lowly patrolman while older brother Sid (Eric Christian Olsen) is a detective, Tom wants them to form a “band of robbers”, a crew that  steals from local criminals. He’s throughly mapped out the first caper for the next morning. They’ll grab a briefcase that may contain that long ago treasure from a shady pawn shop. Huck balks at this idea, being just hours away from the slammer, but when he can’t talk them out of it, he agrees. Needless to say, the intricate plan goes awry, and soon Huck and the fellows are on the run from the fearsome “Injun” Joe (Stephan Lang), while Tom tries to evade his fellow officers, particularly his brand new, very eager, by-the-book partner, Officer Becky Thatcher (Melissa Benoist).

After the fizzled heist, the film develops into a manic comedy of errors often evoking the classic RAISING ARIZONA, with the frazzled leads quickly trying to improvise them selves out of arrest or violence. Adam Nee juggles triple duties as star and co-writer/co- director (with Aaron Nee) and keeps the farce moving at a brisk pace. The cast standout may be Lang as the sinister Joe, who explains the reason behind his politically incorrect nickname in a clever bit that satirizes modern sensibilities. There are a few other familiar faces in the ensemble. many from several popular TV shows, aside from Benoist, now caught in the midst of sudden fame as TV’s newest super-heroine. Oh, and the name of the hotel where much of the climax takes place is a nice touch. BAND OF ROBBERS is a zany, spirited modern re-visit with some beloved characters from some of literature’s most beloved, famous adventures.

BAND OF ROBBERS screens on Monday, November 9 at 7 PM at Landmark’s Tivoli Theatre as part of the 24th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival. Purchase tickets here