Money Monster * * *

At least you didn't back this film.

Money Monster has copped a few negative reviews, but I didn’t think it was too bad. If you just go with the implausible story. It’s a fun ride.

However as a criticism of corporate greed and irresponsibility it is a kitten compared to the roaring lion of The Big Short.
George Clooney stars as a flamboyant TV personality Lee Gates who gives stock market tips.  Some people are silly enough to follow his advice including a disturbed young man who lost everything on one his tips.  But he can’t figure out why. He can’t figure out what exactly what went wrong to cause the share to drop so dramatically. So he decides to break into the TV studio whilst the program is live-to-air, put Lee in a bomb vest and hold him hostage until he gets answers.  And he wants the whole thing to be broadcast.

Julia Roberts plays the part of the TV Producer who is constant touch with Lee through his earpiece. She also has the task of tracking down the CEO of the company that lost so much money so he can give the crazy guy the answer he wants.

As you can see, that’s not a bad dramatic scenario.  Just don’t expect answers to the hundreds of logical questions that you’ll be asking as the story unfolds.  

Money Monster is it’s own worst enemy. Here is the irony -  If it didn’t compromise reality for the sake of drama and if it had fewer unlikely situations, it would probably have been more dramatically intense. But they took the easy option - or the hard option - depends on which way you look at it.

Either way it is a nice idea and a well played drama; even if it fails as a condemnation of corporate greed and has plot holes big enough to drive  a truck through.