Genre: Drama

Director: Robert Luketic

Certificate: 21 was rated 12A by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for persons of 12 years of age and older.  Those under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Violence = mild. Drugs = none. Sex/Nudity = moderate. Language = mild.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

21

Whilst this one will never win any prizes it's fun, has flair, and all-in-all is an enjoyable if predictable romp.  It hasn't quite got the sleek style of a film like Ocean's Eleven for instance.  That said, it has a unique charm that makes it very watchable.  Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is an exceptionally bright, but poor, student who dreams of getting into Harvard medical school, and if he doesn't win a lucrative scholarship it will cost him $300,000 in tuition fees, so his part time job, at a gents outfitters, is never going to be the answer to his prayers.  Enter college professor and one time Las Vegas scammer Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) who sees the potential in Ben's mathematical prowess to earn some serious cash at the gaming tables.  Rosa already has an established group of students who he has working the Vegas strip on his behalf and taking a hefty fifty per cent cut.  Initially reluctant, Ben throws caution to the wind and joins the group enticed in no small way by the obvious charms of fellow student Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth) who he has a crush on.

Together they embark on an exciting and thrilling  whirlwind of weekends at Vegas living like high rollers as Ben becomes more and more adept at 'counting the cards'.  Sadly he begins lying to his mother, and cuts loose his long term friends as he gets in deeper and deeper into the card playing circle.  However he soon grabs the attention of security boss Cole Williams (Larry Fishburne) an old hand at the scamming processes but who still prefers to catch the perpetrators by video tape rather than newly installed computer technology, and he has an old score to settle with Micky Rosa.  It all builds up to a crescendo as some double crossing begins to rear its ugly head, and the group fragment as things get a little too hot to handle.

A strong cast that work well together (though Bosworth is largely uninspiring) and they make up for a script that could have been a lot snappier.  However, this film is about entertainment, and if you’re looking to lose yourself in a thrillfest for a couple of hours this one is for you.

In a word - "Enjoyable".

Reviewed by Mary Kate, Premier Movie Reviews 2008

If you enjoy 21 you might also enjoy Ocean's Eleven

Jim Sturgess

Kevin Spacey

Kate Bosworth

Aaron Yoo

Liza Lapira

Jacob Pitts

WORTH A WATCH