A Bizarre Owen Wilson Heist Movie Is Taking Off On Free Streaming
Though some details were changed, much of the Owen Wilson film was true to the story.
This article is more than 2 years old
Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime have provided fan-favorite content to their subscribers. This new push for streaming has made films more accessible. So much so that one streaming service is even funneling more money into their platform. But one platform that may have flown under the radar is IMDb TV. The free streaming service allows access to films that viewers may have forgotten about, including the Owen Wilson vehicle Masterminds. The film has charted on IMDb TV’s top ten films, giving something fans to laugh at. While the film only has a 34% on Rotten Tomatoes, that isn’t stopping viewers from giving this a second watch.
Masterminds debuted in 2016 with a cast of many funny actors. In addition to Owen Wilson, stars include Kristen Wiig, Zack Galifianakis, and Leslie Jones. The broad comedy follows David Ghantt (Galifianakis), an everyman who works as a guard for an armored car company transporting money every day. Close to marriage with Jandice (Kate McKinnon), David feels like there may be more to life. He soon falls into a flirtation with his co-worker Kelly (Wiig) who convinces him to be a part of a robbery of the armored car’s money.
The film is populated with many outrageous characters. Owen Wilson portrays Steve Chambers, one of the criminals involved in the heist. Everyone involved in the crime is bumbling and incompetent. This works for the actors, many of whom are in comedy or alumni of Saturday Night Live. Even more shocking about the subject matter is that it is actually based on real events.
The film was inspired by the 1997 heist of a Loomis armored car in North Carolina (via Collider). Although Masterminds appears to be a humorous take on the situation, the real-life events didn’t stray too far from the film. According to Oxygen, the real-life David Ghantt was successful in the theft of $17 million. Kelly Campbell convinced Ghantt to pull off the heist with her, using his feelings for her to her advantage. The plan went off without a hitch but it was the aftermath that did the crew in. They were discovered after Ghantt’s partners in crime started spending the money lavishly. Though some details were changed, much of the Owen Wilson film was true to the story.
These details seemed to lend well to a comedic film as these elements are already humorous in hindsight. The comedic actors just add to the ridiculous aspects of the situation. In Masterminds, David allows his feelings for Kelly to get in the way and make it seem like pulling off a heist is a good idea. And surprisingly, not all critics were too harsh. Upon release, outlets like The Wrap were kind to the film all things considered. “It’s a friendly movie that exchanges belly laughs for occasional chuckles,” Dave White wrote in 2016, only going as far as calling it “silly.” Other outlets like The Guardian, however, called the film “tortuously dull.” Masterminds was not a box office slam dunk, according to Box Office Mojo.
This didn’t hinder its actors in the least bit. Kristen Wiig has appeared in blockbusters such as Wonder Woman 1984 where she played Diana’s nemesis Cheetah. Her humor and dramatic ability continues to be a crowd pleaser. She is even reprising her role in Peacock’s MacGruber show, starring Will Forte (via TV Insider). Owen Wilson has also found variations in his roles. The funny actor was a familiar face in Wes Anderson films but now has joined the Marvel Universe.
Owen Wilson appeared in last year’s Disney television series Loki. He portrayed opposite Tom Hiddleston who returned as the titular character. Loki proved to be another win for the Marvel shows, telling a wild story involving time travel and alternate universes. Wilson’s character Mobius was part of the TVA, an organization that held responsibility for keeping the sacred timeline in order. Time variants such as Loki were to be detained and determined if they would offend again. Mobius spends the show realizing the organization he works for is corrupt and becoming a true friend to Loki.
While fans are waiting for Loki to return, they can catch Owen Wilson in a film just in time for Valentine’s Day. Wilson is teaming back up with former Anaconda co-star Jennifer Lopez in an unexpected romance (via People). Marry Me covers the unlikely romantic pairing of Wilson and Lopez when one of them spontaneously decides to marry the other during a concert. Marry Me is already in theaters, just in time for the romantic holiday.
