Masterplan Review: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Masterplan has a silly, interesting idea and a charming Stanley Tucci, but predictable twists and an ignored family story leave everything feeling half-finished. It’s an easy one-time watch, and not much more.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Platform: Prime Video
Genre: Heist Comedy
Director: Thomas Vincent
Cast: Stanley Tucci, Victor Belmondo, Simona Tabasco
Stealing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre is one of those ideas that sounds fun the moment you hear it. Throw in a family twist, and you’d think you have the recipe for a great weekend watch. Masterplan tries to deliver exactly that, but it ends up feeling like a heist that never quite gets off the ground.
The story follows Roger, a legendary thief played by Stanley Tucci, who wants to pull off the biggest robbery of all time. For the job, he brings in Chiara, a cybercrime expert, and Jay, an explosives specialist. The catch is that the two are siblings, and Roger just happens to be their father, whom they never knew existed.
So now this team has to plan a massive robbery while also dealing with the shock of meeting a long lost dad and finding out they’re related. On paper, that’s a lot of drama and comedy packed into one film. The film itself even makes it clear early on that you shouldn’t look for realism. It’s a silly ride, and you need to switch off your logic to enjoy it.
This is where the film stumbles the most. Chiara and Jay get handed a DNA test that says they are related, and they simply accept it and move on. There’s hardly any talk about how strange or emotional it would be to suddenly gain a sibling and a father. Apart from calling each other brother and sister now and then, the idea is mostly forgotten.
That’s a shame, because this storyline could have given the film real heart. Instead, it feels like a gimmick used whenever the script needs a quick joke or a convenient moment. Even the actors look a little awkward during these scenes, as if they’re in a hurry to move on.
The heist side isn’t much better. The big twist in the second half is supposed to shock you, but anyone who has watched a few caper films will see it coming from the start. The action scenes and turns in the plot feel repetitive, and there’s little to keep you hooked.
The characters also suffer. Roger is supposed to be a master manipulator, Chiara a brilliant hacker, and Jay a bomb expert. But the film mostly asks you to take their word for it, instead of actually showing their skills. Because of that, the heist never feels clever or exciting.
If there’s one bright spot, it’s Stanley Tucci. He is enjoyable in almost anything, and even with a weak script, he brings charm and energy to the screen. It’s just unfortunate that the writing doesn’t give his character the sharpness he needs. Victor Belmondo and Simona Tabasco also try their best, but they don’t get much to work with.
The film’s tone also feels confused. You can’t always tell whether it wants you to laugh, feel something, or just enjoy the heist, so it ends up doing all three halfway.
Masterplan has all the ingredients for a fun heist comedy, but it can’t mix them well. It might work if you want something light that you’ll forget by tomorrow, but don’t expect clever twists or deep emotion.
If you’re looking for other things to watch, you might want to read our review of Ranabaali, Vijay Deverakonda’s sincere period drama that lacks impact, or The Storm, a dark Swedish dinner party that’s hard to look away from. For something with a message, our Crazy Kalyanam review asks whether you’ll wait long enough to hear it.