dex14

Who would've thought Ash Ketchum would be so down on a movie with an Asian stripper.

Perkinsun Dzees

It's an entertaining movie, but not very deep (or at least not nearly as deep as it seems to think it is). Co-producer Adam "Big Short" McKay's influence seems very evident in both the subject matter and style of filmmaking. First half works best as it sets up the characters, their personalities and the strip club milieu. The relationship between Constance Wu's and J Lo's characters forms the crux of the movie and remains the strongest element throughout.

Second half meanders, loses focus and gets repetitive (I mean, how many times do we have to see Lili Reinhart vomit?). Not sure why we needed so many perfunctory scenes of Julia Stiles interviewing people, other than it was an overly convenient way to explain things to the audience. And the movie just kind of ends without a memorable finish or much of a point, really.

I think the Oscar buzz for J Lo is legit, as she gives a dynamic and convincing performance as a seasoned stripper, though she doesn't have that one really big dramatic scene that would have made her a lock for a nomination. Also, the movie can't seem to decide if she's supposed to be a good character driven to criminal behavior because of her circumstances or if she's really just a bad and conniving person only looking out for her own interests.

.

RichC2

This pulled a strong $2.5m last night

dex14

It was entertaining, but I agree with Perkinsun Dzees assessment of the second half.

The bod on J.Lo...

dex14

It's definitely going to do better than the $20mil tracking. At least $30...

DJariya

I saw it this afternoon and thought it was really good. It was a full house in my theatre. It does lose steam at the end, but overall a really compelling and well made movie. This was not on my radar at all until the recent positive buzz from the film festivals.

J Lo was really good in this. And she was not really the lead. The lead was Constance Wu. But, IMO she was really dynamic and I enjoyed the complex relationship between her Ramona and Wu's Destiny. And holy hell that opening scene with her.

The only thing I didn't like was Ramona's mouth piercing. I just find those so unattractive.

I do agree that Lili Reinhart constantly puking when she gets stressed out got old.

Overall, I still enjoyed it very much and for me it's maybe Top 10 best of 2019.

The_Cube

I can't recommend this movie. Glamorizing the stripping industry and drugging of men just doesn't do it for me.

TomOpus

Show me on this doll where the stripper touched you.

DJariya

So did you actually see it or are you just making a generalization based on the subject matter?

And I don't think it was glamorizing the industry. Sure there's some nice tease scenes. But in all, this was through the eyes of Wu's who was trying to make ends up in a tough and sleazy industry after becoming a single Mom. The Wall Street financial crisis of 2008 really hurt this industry and that's why some of these women chose this dark path to steal in order to survive since they had no other skills to make the money they used to.

The_Cube

I saw it. I have Regal Unlimited so I see pretty much every movie. I really felt like the movie didn't do enough to show how evil the strippers were in the movie that drugged the men. It almost had an Ocean's 8 feel to the movie.

Brian T

Haven't seen the movie, but I'm surprised there hasn't been more coverage of Stormi Maya. She plays Angel, with the massive afro and boobs to match. Visually she's a walking cartoon, seemingly in real life as on screen, with a burgeoning career in B-movies, home-made schlock, rap music and appearing on social media wearing as little clothing as possible at all times. Apparently she's well-known for her sex positivity, and worked as a stripper earlier in life. I first noticed her in DEATH KISS, with Bronson clone Robert Bronzi, and a google search (in particular a google image/video search) suggested she wouldn't be uncomfortable doing porn, but then she turns up in a fairly major film like this (even in the trailer).

DaveNinja

I saw this yesterday. I thought it kind of sucked. Constance Wu was good and JLo was okay. The theater was pretty full; almost all women, just 4 guys. Someone near where my wife and I sat had really stinky feet and they must have taken their shoes off. Probably the recliners one row behind us. I suffered through the smell because I wanted to see where the story went but then felt it wasnt worth it.

brayzie

It definitely romanticizes strippers in the same way that Scarface romanticized drug dealers.You have pop icon and sex symbol Jennifer Lopez headlining the movie. You have platinum selling rapper and sex symbol Cardi B⁠—who bragged about drugging and robbing men in real life⁠—featured in the movie and her song in the trailer and soundtrack. Those two alone add a certain degree of glamor and legitimacy to the subject matter, not to mention the way it's being sold as a modern day Robin Hood story.

And somehow this presentation has the Los Angeles Times describing the criminals depicted in the film as "antiheroines" and that it tells a story of "sisterhood." It even convinces people like you that robbing wealthy and middle class people was a necessity of survival.

But kudos to Jennifer Lopez for producing a film that contributes to the hypersexualization of women of color. I'm looking forward to her upcoming film portrayal of Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco, because we definitely need more Latino representation when it comes to films about drug dealing.

Dr. Mantle

Hasn't showbiz been glamorizing evil men for basically forever?

Also, drugging someone to rob them is not the same as drugging someone to rape them.

(I haven't seen this yet. Probably going tonight.)

Giantrobo

Some people pay Strippers/Sex Workers good money for that. Jus sayin...Maybe count your blessings?

Hokeyboy

Saw it with my AMC Stubs A-List subscription while waiting 4 hours for my car to get serviced. Needed something to do.

The movie was garbage. Entertaining garbage (mostly), but garbage nonetheless. Lopez is good in the role but it's HARDLY the show-stopping game-chancing performance people are raving about. She's OK. Wu was fine too. The rest of the cast was largely forgettable. Thank God that Cardi B role was mostly a glorified cameo.

5.5 out of 10.

Hokeyboy

Here's a fun game: drink every time there's a montage. ANY montage. They go back to that well WAY too many times. The movie basically doesn't end, it just limps and falls apart.

wendersfan

We saw it last night and I really liked it.

DaveNinja

so many "celebration/showing off stuff we bought" montages

Giantrobo

Sheeeeyit...Come on Man.

Can't have a film like this without "Flossing". What would be the point?

DaveNinja

I'm too scared to click on that link, haha

TomOpus

It's only a link to Urban Dictionary

Giantrobo

Ok

DaveNinja

okay, that sounds like what about half the movie was.

Original Desmond

This was abominally bad