Last Updated on September 20, 2024 by
Wolfs is a movie that is fully driven by its stars, George Clooney and Brad Pitt in this case. It is as if the script of the film was designed with these two in mind right from inception; the roles are tailored for them
Directed and written by Jon Watts, the plot revolves around two rival “clean-up men” who are hired to cover up a messy situation: the suicide of a young man in a hotel room with a prominent New York City politician, Margaret.
The movie has a good start, with the main premise and potential issues introduced in the first scene. However, the problem is that the story unfolds and it seems like the film cannot deal with these conflicts in a very engaging manner. The dramatic roles are stereotyped and turned into tipos, mere automatons treading their daily round.
Perhaps the most engaging section of the film is the initial scenes where the character of Margaret, eye-poppingly portrayed by Amy Ryan, is presented. She is a political figure, who accidentally invites a young man to her hotel room where he meets his untimely death in a rather peculiar situation with a glass bar stand. This event is capable of ending her singing career; she decides to call for help using a special number she was provided on emergencies. In comes Clooney’s character, Man 1.
Man 1 comes to clean the mess; literally he is taking the body of the girl away and making sure Margaret does not get slandered. There will always be a knock at the door, just when you think you have everything in order. Of course, Man 2 (Brad Pitt) enters the scene and says he is also a technician who has come to fix the problem. The role is played by a representative of the hotel’s owner who does not wish that a scandal occurs in the newly opened hotel.
Both men are similar in personality: calm, cool, and sarcastic. The two do not like each other and their animosity is showcased throughout the film, they have no option but to solve the problem of the body. Then right as rain, they decide to add another twist to it. They find out that a young man known to them as Kid had been found with a large quantity of heroin. Moreover, the Kid is not really dead; he awakens in the trunk of their car as a terrified and bewildered man. Now, they not only have to bury a body but also find out who the living witness is and to whom the heroin belongs?They also have to get the drug to their intended destination without putting themselves in further trouble. On their trip, they are assisted by a woman named June, who is a doctor who is not only familiar with both men intimately but also appears to dislike them.
The few action scenes include the thrilling car chase through the Chinatown and the destructive entry of the duo to a wedding but the rest of the movie follows the evolution of the reluctant respect these two clean-up men command from each other while trying to extricate themselves from one or the other tricky situation. All things considered, the plot is intriguing, but the characters and the movie overall are not explored comprehensively enough. The film is confidently based on the two leading actors, and while charming Clooney and Pitt made this movie look as if it had thereby given it sufficient excitement, enthusiasm, and glimmer of satisfaction.
Wolfs attempts to be an intellectual crime-comedy film but it falls short of the mark. The concept of joining two rival fixers together is interesting and the scenes at the start are well thought through. The issue here is that after laying down the foundation of the movie which is the fact that there is going to be a catastrophe, there is no other exciting progress that is made. After the appearance of George Clooney’s and Brad Pitt’s characters the movie turns into two hours spent in waiting for them to start arguing and, what is even more important, making jokes.
Clooney and Pitt share good on-screen presence, however, their characters do not differ much. Both are charming, good under pressure, and have a pinch of attitude. It is, however, evident that the two characters are always engaged in some form of quarrel or the other, which becomes boring after sometime given that there is no substance in this type of relation. That’s why in such buddy movies, one should have his own set of skills, have some different personality than the second one, but here – they are as similar as two peas in a pod.
The main storyline about covering up an accidental death of a young man in a hotel room engages the viewer initially, however, the narrative very soon turns rather predictable. The element of surprise that the young man is still alive also provides some interest but does not result in much. This new element of heroin seems like it could heighten the conflict and create some stakes, but it only serves as just another plot device and not something that truly propels the story forward.
In fact, Amy Ryan provides one of the film’s few bright spots with her portrayal of Margaret. She portrays an influential politician that finds herself in a scandalous circumstance likely to bring down her political career. The actress does great job, she adds realism, importance to the play, making her look like a real person who wants something and needs it. However, the movie does not pay much attention on her character, and when the clean-up men arrive, she is overshadowed.
These aspects include the Willy Wonka-inspired chase through Chinatown and the highly energetic wedding scene shootout which brings brief entertainment. Such moments looks more like fluff than elements that are an inherent part of the composition of the show. Ultimately, Wolfs relies more on Clooney and Pitt than on the plot, and that causes a problem because viewers have nothing to invest in and no characters to root for.
As amusing as it may be for those who like to see Clooney and Pitt on the big screen, there is not much else to really sink one’s teeth into. It is a movie with an incredibly exciting premise, but the creators were unable to come up with an adequate ending.
Wolfs 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Wolfs is rated R by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for language throughout and some violent content.
Violence and Gore: There are also several big action scenes in the film. These include a gun battle near the climax and a car/pedestrian pursuit through New York’s Chinatown. Although there is no heavily emphasized scenes of violent actions, some scenes contain significant violence that could be potentially uncomfortable to watch for individuals under particular age. One of the main conflicts is based on the supposed demise of a young man known as the ‘Kid’, who is believed to have passed on in a rather embarrassing unforeseen circumstance of a glass bar cart. The specifics of his demise are not very grisly, however, the scene could be upsetting because it refers to an accident. Furthermore, it can be mentioned that there are moments of cruelty when the Kid is put in a car trunk, which may make some viewers feel either fear or discomfort. There are some scenes where the characters use guns and at one point there is a rather intense gunfight. It is not hyper-realistic or bloody, yet it contains weapons and threats of violence. The presence of heroin in the movie increases the tension, with situations where the characters are exposed to violent actions by drug-related criminals such as the mob. Whereas the drug subplot is associated with the more specific ideas of danger and, in fact, physical violence.
Language: the film Contains words LIKE “fck” and “sht.” Since the major tension in the movie is the sarcastic conversation, some of the humor is based on this kind of aggressive language. Typically, the quarrel between the leading protagonists is accompanied by the use of obscene language, insulting each other and telling crude jokes. It is not constant but observed frequently enough to shift the tone of their conversations to be more Adult in nature. Gags may be prostitutes, flirts, or sarcastic remarks that can cause discomfort in children and younger people.
Substance Use: There are references to drugs in the movie and the most pointed one is on the type of drugs that are prohibited, for instance; heroin. The Kid picks up bricks of heroin, and this turns into a plot drive as the characters attempt to discover what to do with the narcotics. While the show does not portray actual drug use, its focus on heroin could render it unpalatable for parents. The politician, Margaret, is seen drinking at a luxurious hotel before the episode that led to the accident takes place. Drink takes a part in the action as it is implied that she got drunk to make a decision to meet the stranger. Other characters are also depicted taking alcohol mostly in parties and it is regularly featured throughout the movie. It is possible to spot some episodes where characters use cigarettes or cigars, however, this is not focalized in the movie. It is more of an ornamental thing that has been incorporated to suit the underworld/criminal theme.
Sexual Content: The movie starts with Margaret, a woman in her forties, driving the Kid, a much younger man, for a drinking spree after which she invites him to her hotel room. Although there’s no sex scene depicted, it is hinted that they may have been sexually involved, and the very scenario (a political having an illicit rendezvous in a hotel with a young man) is suggestive of a sexual act. There would be jokes or a conversation between some characters that may contain sexual connotations, although this seems to be a hybrid between crime and black comedy. However, there is no actual nudity or even the depiction of sexual intercourse in a raw and real manner.
