Release Date:
Friday, March 26, 2004
The Coen brothers have spent their entire careers synthesizing unlikely circumstances into celebrated comedic romps, but in The Ladykillers, they finally come up short. Teaming up with Tom Hanks to remake the 1955 comedy of the same name, the directors assemble a great cast but fail to put them to good use. Led by Hanks Southern gentleman, a gang of crooks (including Marlon Wayans and J.K. Simmons) set up in an elderly churchgoers basement (Irma P. Hall) to plot a heist on a nearby riverboat casino. But once their cover is blown, shes on them like a Jehovahs Witness. From there, its a simple matter of offing the blue-hair and escaping with the loot. Unfortunately, hilarity doesnt really ensue. Hanks ringleader and Simmons mustachioed, IBS-afflicted explosives expert deliver the most laughs, but the film fails to build off their energy. By the time the murderous mayhem kicks in, its too late, and this bumbling robbers tale falls far short of the expectations for such a promising collaboration.