This is a fun little movie. It’s not some masterpiece of cinema, it’s not particularly funny, it’s not even really that clever but it’s well-acted, there’s a couple of good plot twists, and it’s competently shot. This is actually Will Smith’s first R-rated film since Bad Boys II and it’s interesting to see the types of roles he is taking these days. He’s still a huge box office draw and yet he is not prolific so it’s curious that he chose Focus as one of those few and far between roles. He’s solid in the film and his charisma does a lot to keep things interesting but in the end, Focus just feels like the kind of movie that’s instantly forgotten. Even now, I’m having trouble remembering most scenes.
Actress Margot Robbie plays the female lead and foil to Will Smith and she’s every bit as good here as she was in Wolf of Wall Street and Z for Zacharia. The next time we will see Smith and Robbie together on screen is in the Suicide Squad film being released next year and their chemistry was a big part of what kept Focus moving. All of that being said, the film is at least 20 minutes too long, dragging out a story that just wasn’t compelling enough to lengthen. Bottom line is that Focus is one of those “date night” movies you go with your significant other to watch, having fun seeing it, then forget nearly everything about it the next morning.