The Hustle is a brisk and humorous remake of a 1988 classic, dirty rotten scoundrels, with a tinge of modernity and biting comedy. The film focuses on two female con women: Penny Rust, a small-time con artist of Australian descent, and Josephine Chesterfield, a high-end British con artist, who join forces in the glamorous French Riviera and outsmart rich men as they both vie to win a large sum of money, amounting to 500,000 dollars. The movie is joyful in its gag-a-minute plot with them having their grand plans including catfishing and stealing jewelry all in the background of the sun-dazzled picturesque Riviera which gives it an extra touch of fun and naughtiness.
The two lead performances are brilliant, and the energy of the spirited, ambitious Penny is well-compensated by the grace of the cunning Josephine. Their interactions are light and entertaining, and their changing conflicts and friendship introduce warmth and humour to the plot. The screenplay is full of intelligent turns and funny lines, more so when the two women are out to outwit their victims and the other. The movie strikes a good balance between its comic crimes and scenes of true emotion, particularly when Penny falls in love with Thomas Westerburg, a technology billionaire that turns out to be both their target and their accomplice.
In conclusion, The Hustle is an enjoyable, energetic romp that does not just provide laughs but also addresses the issues of trust, deceit and redemption and serves it in an entertaining, shiny bottle. I found its light humor and quickiness refreshing and entertaining, particularly in its clever use of conventional con tales. It is a pleasant surprise that at times the most useful trick to play is to be out smarting the world without losing yourself.
