The Misfits
Heist not comedy gold, but still fun; language, drug use.
The Misfits
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Misfits is an action heist comedy starring Pierce Brosnan and Nick Cannon about a diverse band of do-gooders who are like modern-day Robin Hoods, stealing from rich lowlifes -- including terrorists -- and giving the money to those in need. All possess skills that could be used for nefarious purposes, but they instead work as a team to help others. Destroying, stealing, and blowing up stuff are depicted as cool, but the film is notably not violent. Except for one highly choreographed martial arts fight sequence, violence against people happens off camera. Other iffy behavior is also somewhat veiled, meaning adults will understand but kids may not. For instance, a character is silently identified as a womanizer when he's shown standing fully dressed in his room with an unidentified woman sleeping in his bed with her back exposed. Later, he propositions a different woman, but his wording is vague enough that kids may not get it. And in describing why a character went to jail, the narrator says it was "drugs, possession, and solicitation" with an image of a man holding a rolled-up dollar bill to his nose (implying cocaine use) and sliding it across a table while two women pour bottles of alcohol on his head. Cursing includes heavy use of "s--t" and one "f--king." A character who isn't a native English speaker unintentionally misuses crude sexual terminology (e.g., "all cocked up" and "golden shower"); his colleagues then laugh and try to shut him down by repeating the incorrect word. While filmmakers create a fictional country for the terrorists to be from, the Muslim Brotherhood is named as their organization.
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Great movie!
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What's the Story?
THE MISFITS are a team of wealth vigilantes, a scrappy but skilled crew -- including a woman who kills through her physical prowess, a con man who's a master of disguise, and an explosives expert -- who reappropriate money from wealthy scoundrels so that they can give it to the poor and deserving. When they take on a heist of significant magnitude and difficulty in an attempt to steal terrorists' gold from a high-security facility in the Middle East, they recruit high-end, debonair thief Richard Pace (Pierce Brosnan) to join their ranks.
Is It Any Good?
This humorous heist actioner is high on style, if short on substance. Stylistically, it's appealing from the opening scenes that introduce us to the film's diverse team. Each member of the Misfits has skills associated with illegal behavior: killing, conning, and blowing stuff up. But just because they're talented at doing bad doesn't mean they are bad; they're trying to make a world that's just. And the young crew outsmarts the Boomers whose actions are always entirely selfish -- even dashing, stealthy Pace is an absentee dad. That's where it gets interesting: Pace, a shady version of James Bond, is the main character, but he's put in his place again and again by the "kids" (well, Cannon is 40, but still ... ) who teach him life lessons. In a real world that seems out of control, it may feel empowering for younger generations to see themselves as the ones putting things back in order -- and this is their world, so the scenery is full of snazzy expensive cars, fabulous locations, and even someone walking a cougar on a leash.
In the ensemble, Cannon is the narrator and the comic relief: "Black chameleon" Ringo is a modern-day Fletch, hilariously disguising himself as various characters to get what he needs. Cannon's grab bag of alternate personas is great fun, but his narration, while written to be clever, actually pulls the entire production down. It tells instead of shows (sometimes stating the obvious), and because it breezes through details, it cuts off viewers' emotional investment in the characters and the feeling of purpose they have in their mission. We hop across the stones of the story instead of diving into the emotional waters. Things come too easily to them, without a deep enough explanation for why that might be. But these are the concerns for more sophisticated moviegoers -- and that's not who this movie is made for. It knows it's a great fit for teens; parents can at least feel comforted that director Renny Harlin has made The Misfits a film that seems to be violent but actually isn't, that shows women as warriors and people of color as smart and heroic, and that knows young women are too smart to be enticed by rich old men -- even if they are James Bond.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether they consider The Misfits violent. Why, or why not?
Everyone has talents that can be applied for selfish or selfless purposes. How can you use your talents to do good in the world?
The movie's heroes don't take the spoils of their work for themselves, yet the film is set amid glamorous and luxurious surroundings. Is this promoting material wealth? Or condemning it?
How are drugs and alcohol depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
How do the Misfits demonstrate teamwork? Do you think it's realistic?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 11, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: August 10, 2021
- Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Nick Cannon, Jamie Chung
- Director: Renny Harlin
- Studio: The Avenue
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Character Strengths: Teamwork
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: some language/sexual references and brief drug use
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
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Ocean's Eleven
Fun heist movie for older kids and their families.
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Now You See Me
Teen-appealing heist movie has a few intense fight scenes.
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Mission: Impossible
Sensational, implausible, violent: Irresistible to teens.
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Tower Heist
Brisk, fun heist movie has some language, sex talk.
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The Italian Job
Exciting heist film has action violence, profanity.
For kids who love funny action heroes
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