If you think of the movies as an extended banquet served by a range of variously talented chefs — now the burgers-and-fries of a summer action movie, now the complicated (and not always successful) flavors of a rich prestige film — sometimes it’s a real pleasure to be served something that tastes more like a palate cleanser or an apéritif, that goes down smoothly without adding any weight. And that feeling is especially welcome at this time of year, after a holiday season full of heavy meals and an Oscar season full of arguments about which bourguignon or gnocchi or paella tasted best.
So I’m happy to recommend Focus, a glossy caper movie starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie as thieves and con artists who might be falling for each other, to anyone who’s had enough of the American Sniper–versus–Selma, Birdman-versus-Boyhood debates but isn’t ready for anything substantial in their place. Focus is pure fizz: not too long, not at all pretentious, lovely to look at, sometimes funny, never dull. You won’t quite figure out all the angles, you won’t be able to decide if the plot quite makes sense — and blessedly, you won’t care enough to argue about it for very long afterward. Just taste, enjoy, and move along.
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