Big Picture Big Sound

Netflix movies are often divided into two factions: Awards films, and everything else. The so-called awards films usually hit the streaming services in the fall, after playing festivals and going into theaters for a blink-and-you-may-miss-it run, and everything else is scattered about throughout the year. "The Out-Laws" falls firmly into the disposable "everything else" category, but it is surprisingly fun along the way.

Bemoaning Netflix's role in movie distribution is futile because they aren't going anywhere. Their emphasis on content over quality is a valid concern and worthy of criticism because a large portion of their cinematic output has a staggering feeling of sameness to it. The releases are often forgettable, overlong at a mere two hours, and never as funny, romantic, or thrilling as one would hope when pressing play. That's why it's almost refreshing to see the "The Out-Laws" get in and get out in 95 harmless minutes.

Owen Browning (Adam Devine) is a bank manager who lives life by the books. He rarely takes risks, doesn't find himself in many confrontations, and is happily engaged to Parker (Nina Dobrev), who he is about to marry. He tries to not put too much emphasis on the fact he has never met Parker's parents, and it's even unclear if they will be at the wedding. To everyone's surprise Parker's parents Lilly (Ellen Barkin) and Billy (Pierce Brosnan) show up out of the blue and are ready to get to know Owen. Their plans get foiled when Owen's bank is robbed and the sudden appearance of Parker's parents feels a bit too coincidental.

Director Tyler Spindel continues his work inside the Netflix machine after last directing the truly contemptible "The Wrong Missy" for the streamer (Lauren Lapkus, who co-starred in Spindel's previous film, gets a few laughs here). That previous effort was a snapshot of everything wrong with the streaming model because it was a movie about output and not quality. "The Out-Laws," for all its silly predictability, is an easy hang on a Friday night.

Devine has cultivated a young Jack Black-Adam Sandler hybrid persona, which rarely changes from film-to-film, but his manic persona fits in a quick comedy like this. Everyone around him seems to be having a good time, especially Barkin and Brosnan, who revel in playing it big as Parker's distant parents. Richard Kind and Julie Hagerty are always welcomed and provide some laughs as Owen's parents.

Though it sounds like damning with faint praise, in the era of streaming titles there have been a lot worse than "The Out-Laws." The movie blends action and comedy rather seamlessly and offers a few laughs along the way. It works as an end-of-the-week piece of entertainment.