Will Smith is one of America’s favorite celebrities. Charming, talented, and attractive Will is a box office drawl and a critical darling. Or at least he used to be. Truth is the Fresh Prince has gone stale. From 2009 to 2014, Smith only appeared in three films, the passable but un-extraordinary sequel Men in Black 3, the critically derided Winter’s Tale, and the big budget ego trip After Earth, most notable for slamming the final nails into M. Night Shyamalan’s career; overall, a poor trifecta of cinema for what’s supposed to be one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

 

And now we have Focus, the first Smith family film of 2015 and the subject of today’s review. Alas, rather than light a new hope, the sordid streak continues as Focus proves to be a muddled mess, and Will adds another black mark on what was once among the finest careers in Hollywood.

 

Starring Smith as con man Nicky Spurgeon and Margot Robbie as love interest and token hot girl Jess Barrett, Focus is coiled tighter than a slinky but has less substance than chewing gum.  From the beginning to end, there is a constant barrage of twists, turns, and all manner of farfetched foolery, leaving a plot with more holes than a box of donuts. Like that bad college professor who spends most of class telling terrible puns, Focus is more concerned with you thinking it’s clever than doing its job.

 

As for the performances in this convoluted script, Robbie is, at the very least, giving it her all. Alas, even the best actress would have trouble breathing life into Jess Barrette, a character whose only job is wearing low cut tops and whining about her man troubles. Let’s just say Focus isn’t likely to win any awards for its diverse portrayal of ladies.

 

On the contrary, Smith just seems tired. The charm and charisma that elevated him in past films is nowhere to be seen, in its place a sad image of roles past that made him so successful. His first leading role since the train wreck that was After Earth, you wouldn’t be faulted for thinking he’d put his all into this one, but that’s sadly not the case.  It’s clear from the first time we see him, Will just doesn’t care.

 

And that’s the problem that really penetrates Focus. The whole project reeks of the depressing stench of no one giving a crap. From the half-baked script, to the “just here for the paycheck” acting, nothing in Focus looks or feels like anyone cared about making it. In my book, I can respect a bad film that was a labor of love. A mediocre one like this, made for a quick pump and dump at the box office, is one of the things I loathe about modern day Hollywood.  

 

The biggest con Focus managed to pull off was taking two hours of my time and $16 of my money. You may not always be able to keep a light fingered pick pocket from swiping your wallet, but you can save yourself from films like this scamming you even harder.

 

1 and ½ stars out of 5