“Focus” is a movie about a con man and his elaborate operation of conning, but it is also about the relationship this con man develops with a much younger con woman, so the story is about this con man making a big score but it is also about whether or not two people who make their livings ripping other people off and being deceptive could actually get together and have a trusting relationship with one another. And since this movie is about both of these things, it actually isn’t really about either of them, as neither story line gets enough time to grow into something special. Instead it is all kind of perfunctory and by the numbers, and that leaves the whole thing falling just a little short.

Nicky (Will Smith) meets Jess (Margot Robbie) when she very randomly decides to try to rip him off through some elaborate con that Nicky knows all about and sees right through. He explains that he let himself get “conned” out of professional curiosity, tells Jess she sucks at what she does, and leaves her, only for her to track him down and beg for some help. He shows her a few quick pointers without really teaching her anything that she couldn’t learn from a book or watching Youtube videos, and then he leaves her again, only to have her track him down, pretty much forcing her way onto his team of con artists. He eventually agrees because she is attractive (no other reason is offered so this makes the most sense), she joins the team, and despite being told by Nicky initially that she is a terrible pick pocket, she turns out to be extremely skilled at it after only a little bit of practice.Continue Reading …