Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Appealingly quirky characters in bloody, crude crime comedy.
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The Clean Up Crew
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
In THE CLEAN UP CREW, Alex (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and his girlfriend, Meagan (Ekaterina Baker), work for Good Life Cleaners under Siobhan (Melissa Leo), cleaning crime scenes. On their current job, they find a suitcase full of money. Siobhan recommends turning it in, and they agree that the fourth crew member, Chuck (Swen Temmel), shouldn't have it, since he'd spend it on drugs. But then Meagan convinces Alex that they, together, should take it to help jump-start their future. It turns out that the money belongs to crime lord Gabriel (Antonio Banderas), who likes to quote Machiavelli. The cash was earmarked to pay off some crooked cops, and there's urgency around recovering it. Things take a turn when Gabriel kidnaps Meagan, and this dirty business must be settled once and for all.
Is It Any Good?
This bloody crime comedy ultimately doesn't have a whole lot going on, but it keeps up an entertaining level of energy with its amusingly quirky characters and their deadpan dialogue. Directed by Jon Keeyes, The Clean Up Crew keeps viewers on their toes with its characters who react in huge ways—as well as with its characters who react hardly at all. Banderas' Gabriel never leaves his office and spends most of his time yelling at people to "get me my f---ing money!" but he somehow makes the character fun. The four clean-up crew members are cleverly matched, although Rhys Meyers sometimes goes a little too far over the top ("we're going up the chain!"), as if he's not interested in reading the room. Chuck is especially interesting, rarely registering emotion but able to strike with the force of some kind of secret military training.
Stealing money from gangsters is never a good idea, and it's refreshing to have characters like Chuck and Siobhan here, actively reminding us of that. The movie's color schemes and use of space are also sometimes surprisingly inspired, with red and green prominent throughout, plus a purplish-green for Gabriel's office. Of course, The Clean Up Crew has its banal moments as well, but on the whole it's a decent enough time-passer—and better than actual cleaning.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Clean Up Crew's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How are drugs portrayed? Are they glamorized? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
What's interesting about stories in which the criminals are the main characters? Can they be considered antiheroes?
Who was Machiavelli? Why do you think Gabriel likes quoting him?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 20, 2024
- On DVD or streaming: August 20, 2024
- Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers , Melissa Leo , Antonio Banderas
- Director: Jon Keeyes
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Saban Films
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence, pervasive language, and drug use
- Last updated: September 1, 2024
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