KNOCKAROUND GUYS (2003) Four junior wiseguys trying to prove themselves set out for cowpoke country to retrieve a big bag of misplaced money. Can't you just picture the…
Video Review

KNOCKAROUND GUYS (2003)

MPAA Rating: R
Reviewed by Michael Sauter | Feb 28, 2003
EW's GRADE
C-

Details Release Date: Feb 25, 2003; Movie Rated: R; Genres: Drama, Mystery and Thriller; With: Andrew Davoli, Vin Diesel, Seth Green and Barry Pepper; Distributor: New Line Cinema

Four junior wiseguys trying to prove themselves set out for cowpoke country to retrieve a big bag of misplaced money. Can't you just picture the sleeping-with-the-fishes-out-of-water yuks? Surprise: ''Knockaround Guys'' plays the premise straight, toying with familiar Mob themes of honor and betrayal while coming to a very slow boil. What keeps it (barely) watchable are Pepper's moody intensity as the conflicted son of the big boss (Dennis Hopper), Diesel's brawny cool as a low-level enforcer, and John Malkovich's glazed hamminess as an old-school Brooklyn mobster. Whenever he's on screen, the movie is sorta funny.

Originally posted Feb 28, 2003 Published in issue #698 Feb 28, 2003 Order article reprints