Wheelman

Name: Wheelman
Item: Wheelman
Rating: 3
Author: Renee Schonfeld

Movie review by

Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 17+

(i)

Tense action tale has violence, constant cursing.

NR
2017
82 minutes

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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 3 reviews

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The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

No honor among thieves. A price must be paid for criminal behavior.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Despite disregard for the rules of law and morality, hero displays courage, ingenuity, devotion to family, and a modicum of integrity. He draws his own personal ethical line that he won't cross.

Violence

Suspenseful and violent throughout. Multiple scenes of gunfire and mayhem; gruesome deaths with bloody bodies; car chases; a fatal motorcycle crash. A woman is threatened with rape. A teen girl is in jeopardy.

Sex

Language

Nonstop swearing and obscenities, including "s--t," "jerk-off," "ass," "d--k," and all forms of "f--k."

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Drug sales, while not portrayed on camera, are an important plot element.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Wheelman is a taut drama that stays with its central character, a getaway driver, as he attempts to escape in his car from escalating betrayal and mayhem. The film is literally "driven" by intensity, suspense, and an antihero who inspires rooting interest despite his felonious career. The unnamed "wheelman," who is on camera for all but a few brief shots, finds himself a pawn in a battle between rival crime organizations who are out for blood, drugs, and money. Violence erupts frequently. Guns blaze; blood spatters; bodies fall. Car chases lead to crashes, narrow escapes, more deaths and destruction. A 13-year-old girl is in jeopardy. And throughout, angry profanity is heard (including countless uses of "f--k"). A thrill ride for action fans, the movie isn't for kids.

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User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Parent Written byBarb B. October 31, 2017

age 10+

Great cinematography/ filmography

A little on the rough side language-wise, nothing your kids don’t already know obviously. The filmography and cinematography overwhelm any language issues with... Continue reading

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Parent of a 2, 4, 11, 14, 14, and 17-year-old Written bynicolec9131 April 15, 2019

age 18+

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What's the story?

Cell phone calls from an unknown voice, along with threatening texts, find the nameless ex-con WHEELMAN (Frank Grillo) shaken as he waits in his getaway car for two bank robbers to complete a dangerous heist. The phone calls come quickly, and menacingly, with conflicting instructions. In a moment of panic, the Wheelman leaves the thieves at the crime site, taking the bank loot with him. He quickly realizes he's in serious jeopardy, caught between two feuding mob bosses. In addition, he's left his 13-year-old daughter, Katie (Caitlin Carmichael), alone in his apartment, and both she and his ex-wife may be in danger because of him. The phone calls keep coming; his pursuers get closer; and bodies fly as the Wheelman careens through Boston's mean streets in an epic attempt to survive and save his family.

Is it any good?

A tight script and a riveting performance by Frank Grillo as the multidimensional antihero keep this fast-paced noir thriller compelling from start to finish. A bank heist gone wrong is standard fare, but seen here from the point of view of the driver of the getaway car makes Wheelman original. Frank Grillo, usually a featured player, makes the most of this opportunity to carry a film on his own. Young Caitlin Carmichael also has a challenging role, and she's very effective. So are the many car chase sequences, shot from startling angles with screeching power. A few plot elements and some timing issues lessen the impact. (Spoiler alerts: Evening bank hours? A scheme in place to abduct the Wheelman's ex-wife?) Violence and profanity abound, but it's an exciting 82 minutes for mature fans of the genre.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the frequent, graphic violence in Wheelman. How does your family decide which films are too violent for viewing? Does it depend solely upon age? What other factors may be considered? What is the impact of violence in the media on children?
In film terms from the mid-20th century, what is a B movie? How does this movie fit into that category? How is this term aligned with the musical term "B side," which referred to the back side of 78 and 45 rpm records?
Is the main character a hero? Is he sympathetic despite his lifestyle? What scenes or incidents make him someone to root for? What makes antiheroes so compelling?