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This is an archive article published on January 13, 2024
Lift: Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s caper fails to take off
The latest addition of Netflix's catalogue of heist thrillers is riddled with predictable twists and cardboard-like characters
Kevin Hart in a still from his latest release Lift.
The premise of Lift, which is the latest movie to be added to Netflix’s catalogue of heist thrillers, sounds fascinating as a massive consignment of gold is to be stolen mid-air. The thriller shot in some of the most beautiful locations of the world, including Venice, Switzerland and Ireland, looks slick. The movie, which presumably wants to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller, is powered by a diverse cast. Yet, the movie helm by F. Gary Gray, who has directed movies like The Italian Job (2003) and The Fate of the Furious (2017), falls short of being gripping as it goes for style over substance.
Written by Daniel Kunka, Lift follows the adventures of a professional thief Cyrus Whitaker (Kevin Hart) and his expert crew as they attempt the ultimate heist: stealing USD 500 million in gold from a vault on a plane — 40000 feet in the air as it flies over the Alps. The thriller has a team of hackers who can make the most complicated heists look like child’s play. That’s established with a lengthy opening sequence when an enigmatic artist is whisked away by the gang and an intense chase on Venice canals ensues. Soon after, Interpol agent Abby Gladwell (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), who is hot on Whitaker’s trail, approaches him with the proposal to steal the gold at her senior official’s behest.
In the movie, Hart is presented as this heist mastermind, who comes up with complicated plans that are near impossible to execute. He takes high risks but is hesitant to endanger his teammates’ safety. However, what his suave character needed is a bit more rizz to shine and match the charm that heist bosses typically exude in such dramas. That becomes quite apparent when he is dealing with Abby, especially when he is supposedly giving her moony looks.
As an Interpol agent with a beating heart and conscience, Mbatha-Raw is convincing. She is someone who deeply cares about people, values and ‘saving people’ (this is something that’s used as an excuse for multiple actions in the movie). Though her change of heart in the end is not very convincing, going with the mood of the movie that can be overlooked.
The actors, who form the motley crew of thieves assisting Whitaker, are fascinating since the makers seem to have hand-picked them keeping ‘diversity’ in mind. However, their characters lack depth and dimensions.
Though touted as a thriller, Lift has only a few nail-biting moments while the twists are predictable. The ending of Lift hints at upcoming instalments and a possible franchise. If that’s the case, the creators should shift their focus to making the heists more believable and the narrative more engaging.
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