Blue Iguana (2018)

(In French, On TV, August 2021) There’s a heavy dose of Guy Richie’s influence in British gangster comedy Blue Iguana, but I’m surprised at how little of it seems effective. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and jaded; maybe it’s because I watched the film in French; maybe it’s just underwhelming. Suffice to say that this fast-paced, darkly comic crime film does go through the motions of a heist comedy but doesn’t quite manage to impress. Oh, it’s entertaining enough, but just enough: Despite Sam Rockwell’s usual presence and Phoebe Fox’s willingness to repeatedly turn her attractiveness dial up and down, it’s curiously just… passable. Writer/director Hadi Hajaig is clearly having fun, but there’s a spark or two missing despite a few good ideas. I suspect that the way you approach the film will shape a good chunk of your reaction: If you’re willing to tolerate a second- or third-generation copy of better British crime comedies, then Blue Iguana will do just fine. But the moment you expect something more, well, you may not have such a good time.