Looking at the adage, “Men will literally do anything instead of going to therapy,” it’s a fun twist to see a character in The Instigators not only begin the film reluctantly in therapy but eventually take the therapist as a “hostage” and keep them around while doing very nearly everything but open up. Doug Liman’s second directorial effort of 2024 (but, like Road House, also primarily set to be seen on a streaming platform) is a heist comedy that takes the audience on a wild journey through Boston, with almost everything going wrong. Not in terms of this film, however, which is quite entertaining. Sure, by nature of what continues to occur, the stakes never feel particularly high, but with a large and very entertaining cast, two central performances that work well, and an energized tone, seeing a couple of screw-ups scrape by in a unique criminal situation made for a fun time.
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck play Rory and Cobby. Neither are aware of each other at first, but both are brought in by Michael Stuhlbarg’s crime boss character, Mr. Besegai, for a planned robbery. The idea is for these two to team up with Scalvo (Jack Harlow) to rob a fancy election results banquet hosted by the presumed winner, the corrupt Mayor Miccelli (Ron Perlman). However, when the heist goes sideways, Rory and Cobby find themselves on the run with few options outside of a few stolen possessions that may prove more valuable if applied correctly.
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This cast also features Hong Chau as Rory’s therapist, Dr. Donna Rivera, Ving Rhames as a tough cop who moonlights as a bagman of sorts, Paul Walter Hauser as a low-level hitman, Alfred Molina as Stuhlbarg’s right-hand, and Toby Jones as the Mayor’s lawyer. As noted, it’s a big ensemble cast, giving this film the feel of a 90s Tarantino riff or, more accurately, the later phase of Ocean’s Eleven fallout. Writers Affleck and Chuck Mclean are aiming at a few films I can think of (Dog Day Afternoon, The Italian Job, and Quick Change are just a few that came to mind), but it’s no matter. Liman’s slick direction and the attitudes allow the film to establish its own identity, so it largely comes down to enjoying being a part of it all.
Damon and Affleck work well together. Naturally, they are playing opposites. Damon’s Rory is a former Marine, down on his luck, with no real criminal history. He’s doing this job based on having nothing left to lose and needing the money to pay off debts and win his son’s approval back. There are hints of him being suicidal, but this movie is too lighthearted for that to really land. Affleck’s Cobby can best be described as a knucklehead. He’s a loudmouth who needs to use kids to breathe into the breathalyzer that will let him turn on his motorcycle in the mornings. He’s done time before but has the street smarts to know his limits. Both are screw-ups, and they will bicker but also find common ground quickly.
It would be simple to have these two argue constantly, eventually forming a kinship. However, this film has both of them knowing enough to quickly get past the “hate each other” stage of the buddy comedy relationship and stick with the “tolerate each other” for much of the movie. It’s a small choice for the film to make, but effective. The film is so continually on the move that we need to be able to trust the choices these guys make together.
Plot-wise, the way The Instigators bounces along and relies on subverting expectations comedically, it eventually becomes pretty simple to figure out the moves this movie is planning to make. That’s where having this overqualified cast (and Harlow) comes in. Constantly cutting back to either Perlman’s Mayor or whatever Stuhlbarg and Molina are up to, this film makes it clear that everyone on the criminal side is at least a little dumb about handling things. Meanwhile, with in-and-out attempts to involve Chau’s Dr. Rivera, the film more obviously skirts with becoming far too broad, yet Chau is also very game to play into the silliness of the scenarios presented. She continues trying to help Rory while arguing with Cobby and his obnoxiousness. Under different circumstances, this would make for a twisted rom-com. As it stands, three’s company, and they make it work.
With a marketing effort to remind audiences that this film is from the director of The Bourne Identity and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, it is worth noting that the film looks expansive. It has been filmed all over Boston and even features a car chase or two to show off the sense of scale everyone is working with. Given how The Instigators also finds a way to show restraint in the realm of third-act showdowns, this film may have a light touch, but it makes some clever moves when considering where things end up and what we should be taking away from it all.
The Instigators was co-produced by Artists Equity, the production company founded by Damon and Ben Affleck to help bring back mid-budget movies geared toward but not necessarily exclusively meant for adults. Like that company’s first film, Air, this is an entirely watchable feature with many notable names, a good amount of production value, and good vibes for an audience looking for a solid movie. In the realm of heist films, it’s not exactly finding new ways to crack a safe, but it gets by on having a few tricks up its sleeves to help it stand out.
The Instigators opens in limited release on August 2, 2024, and debuts on Apple TV+ on August 9.
