REVIEW: 'Takers' styles clichés into something new

A crackling crime drama assembled from a scrap heap of hoary clichés, “Takers” proves that everything old can sometimes really be new again.

Everything in this stylish, exciting movie has been borrowed from other pictures: the suave, resourceful bank robbers who execute perfect crimes and the pair of dogged police officers hell-bent on nabbing them. But the familiarity of the material is overcome by stylish, unobtrusive direction by John Luessenhop, who keeps the visuals vibrant and flashy without resorting to assaultive overkill, and an eclectic ensemble cast of actors you never imagined would ever appear in the same movie.

“Takers” makes the bad guys as engaging and charismatic as the heroes. These five slick thieves (Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy and Chris Brown) dress like GQ models and

are also meticulous about planning their ingenious crimes — when they rob a bank, they use a TV news chopper as their getaway vehicle — which makes life a lot harder for LAPD detectives Jack (Matt Dillon) and Eddie (Jay Hernandez).

Despite the movie’s predictability, the plot does manage to come up with a couple of curve balls, most notably the ending, which you won’t guess is coming no matter how many crime pictures you’ve seen.

“Takers” doesn’t break any new ground, but it goes down smooth and easy — a tall, ice-cool chaser to a long, mostly dry summer movie season.

TAKERS

Cast: Matt Dillon, Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Jay Hernandez, Hayden Christensen

Director: John Luessenhop

Theaters:

Carmike, Chapel Hills, Cinemark, Hollywood, Tinseltown

Rated: PG-13 (for vulgar language, violence, gore, sexual situations, adult themes)

Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes

GRADE: B