Synopsis

Netflix’s new original movie, ‘Lift,’ follows Cyrus (Kevin Hart), an international art thief who has been successfully lifting priceless art pieces with his crew for years. During their latest heist, targeting an NFT in Venice, Cyrus and his crew are apprehended by Interpol agent Abby Gladwell (Gugu Mbatha-Raw). Faced with the choice of jail or assisting Interpol in stealing half a billion in gold from Lars Jorgensen (Jean Reno), Cyrus and his team opt for the latter. The challenge? A Sky Suisse passenger plane is flying the gold from London to Zurich Now, Cyrus, his crew, and Agent Gladwell must execute a daring ‘Lift’ of the gold while in transit.

Straight to DVD 

Netflix’s new original movie, ‘Lift,’ starring Kevin Hart, follows the familiar heist movie formula, yet it delivers a very enjoyable experience. However, it falls into the category of films that, if not on a streaming site, I might not choose to pay for a cinema ticket. It has the vibe of a straight-to-DVD movie, but in the best way possible.

Kevin Hart’s Dramatic Acting Chops

It was a breath of fresh air to see Kevin Hart take on a different kind of role and step back from the comedy spotlight, allowing his co-stars to shine in that department. Since Hart’s 2017 film ‘The Upside’ that he starred in alongside Bryan Cranston, I’ve anticipated his venture into more serious roles. While the subject matter of that film and ‘Lift’ is on opposite ends of the spectrum. The latter could have easily become just another comedy/action film with jokes every five minutes. Instead, it turned out to be just another comedy/action film, however with jokes seamlessly woven in at appropriate times. Don’t get me wrong; it’s Kevin Hart, and humour is inevitable, but the subtlety in his comedic delivery in this film worked every time. I, for one, am eager to see the next ‘serious’ role Kevin Hart tackles. 

The Heist Crew

What makes films like ‘Oceans 11’ and ‘The Italian Job’ great? It’s the ragtag, motley crew that is assembled. ‘Lift’ excels in introducing each character to the audience, showcasing their unique contributions to the team. The film also skillfully portrays the camaraderie forged through shared experiences, seamlessly integrating the crew’s history into passing conversations. It’s so well done that it leaves me curious about the crew’s past – perhaps a prequel in the works?

What Happened in Paris?

Lift hinges on the chemistry between its two main leads, and I can confidently say they not only have good chemistry but great chemistry. Hart embodies the suave thief with a heart of gold (no pun intended), always two steps ahead and slowly falling, then all at once, for Agent Gladwell, exquisitely. Mbatha-Raw portrays the seemingly tough Interpol agent with a mission-first attitude and an unspoken history from Paris with our thief but deep down there’s something about him that makes her heart skip a beat impeccably. Together, whether bickering, solving problems, fighting side by side, stealing glances, or sharing a passionate moment in a plane bathroom, they do it flawlessly. 

Action Scenes

For an action movie, the sequences in ‘Lift’ were, to be honest, meh. It’s challenging to pinpoint exactly what was wrong with the action scenes. Perhaps the fight choreography was not up to par, or maybe the action sequences seemed somewhat slow. However, something about them just didn’t feel exciting. In saying that, there were a lot of unique and cool camera movements in the film. One, in particular, stands out – the sequence on the plane, shot in one take, where we establish the positions of everyone on our crew and the enemies. If Netflix were to give the green light for a sequel or prequel, I would hope the action set pieces lift (pun intended).

Is It Worth a Watch 

I would confidently recommend Netflix’s new comedy/action film ‘Lift’ to a friend or family member, primarily for the performance given by Kevin Hart, showcasing his diversity beyond comedy. While the action scenes may lack a bit of excitement, the chemistry not only between the two leads but the entire crew makes it worthwhile. With an interesting enough story, a great soundtrack, and a different kind of performance from Kevin Hart, ‘Lift’ is more than just a good enough movie. Perhaps throw the movie on in the background while you’re cleaning or cooking. Although maybe not cooking, as you could get sucked into the story and forget you have something on the stove.