SUNDANCE 2022: Aubrey Plaza Shines in the Adrenaline-Fueled “Emily the Criminal” [REVIEW]

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE YET TO SEE EMILY THE CRIMINAL, THIS IS A NON-SPOILER REVIEW.

Aubrey Plaza is the definitive Sundance darling of the last decade. Showing up in banger after banger with Ingrid Goes West, Black Bear, and now with Emily the Criminal. The amazing thing about these films is that they are all wildly different… but, they do have one thing in common. Plaza is a force to be reckoned with, in all of them.

WHAT IS EMILY THE CRIMINAL ALL ABOUT?

Emily is stuck with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record. Desperate for income, she takes a shady gig as a “dummy shopper,” buying goods with stolen credit cards supplied by a middleman named Youcef. Faced with a series of horrible job interviews, Emily soon finds herself seduced not only by the quick cash and illicit thrills of black market capitalism but also by her ardent mentor… Youcef.

I honestly did not have any expectations for Emily the Criminal going into it and it was probably my least anticipated out of all of the films I saw. But, this film was a big surprise for me. The film is like a millennial version of Uncut Gems, an anxiety-ridden thrill ride following an anti-hero who is caught up in the criminal underworld and can’t get out. But, unlike the Safdie Brothers masterwork, Emily is far more likable and worthy of empathy than Adam Sandler’s Howard was. 

HOW WILL THIS FILM CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES?

The film starts off with an all-too-familiar terrible job interview that sees an entitled manager asking Emily far too much about her past. And in this scene, you can already tell the magnitude of what Plaza’s performance will be. I appreciated this film’s viewpoint on what it is to be a person of this generation… dealing with crippling student debt, struggling to find solid work, having to settle for low-paying gig-share jobs, and depicting just what it takes to survive in this day and age. In that way, I think this movie will really connect with audiences in their late twenties and thirties.

As Emily falls down the rabbit hole of crime, starting off with small credit card fraud jobs that turn into her stealing cars and more; the film is heart-racing and adrenaline-fueled. As a viewer, you are just waiting for the time when Emily doesn’t get away with her actions. As she stares at the credit machine waiting for her fraudulent card to be accepted, you are holding your breath for dear life in anticipation with her. 

HOW DOES PLAZA’S PERFORMANCE COMPARE TO THE REST OF HER WORK?

As I said before, Plaza absolutely kills it in the role. And while her performance is nowhere near as great as the Oscar-Worthy one she delivered in Black Bear, mostly due to her wavering Jersey accent, she is still as magnetic as ever. It is also so nice to see her showing off her more dramatic, serious chops here… And it proves the actress can do anything. Her chemistry with Army of the Dead’s Theo Rossi is also dynamite.

DOES EMILY THE CRIMINAL GET PAST ITS ACTION GENRE TROPES?

Unfortunately, Emily the Criminal loses steam as it starts winding down… Leading to an ending that is satisfactory, but still a little weak. The movie hits such high highs in its first half that it’s a shame that it becomes a little more like a generic crime thriller later on. But, I still think this little indie is an action-packed blast… that makes the most out of its budget and gives another platform for Aubrey Plaza to kick ass and take names.

Emily the Criminal does not yet have a release date.

For more Reviews, make sure to Stay Tuned to That Hashtag Show!