Wolfs, the new Apple TV+ movie directed by Jon Watts, promises a lot by bringing together once again Brad Pitt and George Clooney, two of the most charismatic stars in Hollywood who hadn’t shared the screen for years. However, the question that many are asking is if it’s really worth watching. And now that it has premiered out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, we can answer taking into account the main reviews.
In his return to the crime thriller genre after directing the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy, Jon Watts presents a story that, as everyone indicates, fails to escape the clichés of the genre. The plot revolves around two “lone wolves,” played by Pitt and Clooney, who are forced to work together when the New York district attorney becomes involved in a scandal involving a compromising corpse. From the start, it is evident that the chemistry between Pitt and Clooney is undeniable, adding considerable value to the film. However, this chemistry does not seem to be enough to elevate a predictable and formulaic script.
A complete deception
One of the most criticized aspects of Wolfs is its script, which seems to have been written without the necessary depth to support the weight of its main stars. The dialogue lines are mostly predictable and the humor that the movie tries to rescue feels forced and, at times, outdated. Watts, who is also responsible for the script, seems to have fallen into the trap of relying too much on the magnetic presence of Pitt and Clooney, without making much effort to offer a story that matches their talents.
The movie also tries to explore the concept of masculinity in a comedic way, which could have been an interesting area to delve into, especially considering the age of its main characters. However, instead of offering a critical analysis of these issues, as they claim, Wolfs perpetuates tired stereotypes, portraying its characters as exaggerated versions of “alpha males” who, instead of evolving, seem to be stuck in a stagnant version of themselves.
The pace of Wolfs doesn’t help improve the experience either. Despite being labeled as an action comedy, the action scenes don’t seem to be filled with excitement and creativity precisely, and the comedy, although sometimes effective thanks to the talent of its actors, is not consistent enough. In addition to this, there is an open ending that, far from closing the story satisfactorily, seems to be designed exclusively to pave the way for a confirmed sequel.
In summary, Apple TV+ doesn’t seem to hit the mark with its original film content, although they continue to release the best series on the market. However, it will surely be a great success thanks to the popularity of its two main stars.
