Allan Ungar directs Josh Duhamel, Elisha Cuthbert and Mel Gibson in this true crime caper about a real life Elmore Leonard-esque prolific bank robber.

A pleasant, breezy watch that hides its indie budget deftly. Duhamel has a cute energy in this. Probably his career apex. And yet still he always will be the Aldi own brand Timothy Olyphant. Someone should put them and Johnny Knoxville in a caper like this playing three brothers. Mel eats during his short screentime. Has fun, doesn’t go anywhere near as dark as others might. Eventually provides an almost paternal malevolence like which we used to get from Dennis Farina. I suspect there is part of Mel that wishes he was only making sequels to Payback every couple of years for $20 million dollar paychecks. That movie again is another touchstone to this. Ultimately Bandit is a fine ‘strange but true’ tale but not quite as wacky as it often tries to persuade you it is.

6

Perfect Double Bill: The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper (1981)