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Focus stars Will Smith as Nicky a seasoned con man and his protege Jess played by Margot Robbie. The movie begins with the two meeting up at a fine resuraunt Nicky has been able to get into by dropping a fake name. They hit it off and move things to her room where she unsucessfully tries to pull her own con/robbery on him which he sees a mile away.

From here a teacher student relationship with a little sexual tension kicks off. He lets her train with him and his large network of con men. They hit up large sporting events and steal from unsuspecting tourists with a lot of misdirection. Nicky explains that by working together and pulling a lot of small jobs there is less risk than working large con jobs. Shortly there after she becomes part of the crew and Nicky and Jess decide to take their relationship to the next level. Ironically the next day, he involves her in a very large con. The pull it off, their relationship is blooming, and next thing you know half way to the airport, he drops her off like yesterday’s trash leaving her devastated.

Fast forward three years later and they cross paths again as Jess is dating the man (a race car driver) he is supposed to be working another large con with. He tries to convince her that he still has feelings for her and that he is a changed man, all while trying to keep things hidden from his boss/her boyfriend and his goons. The finale does it’s best to wrap up the big con and the relationship into one culminating event.

Overall I felt like movie lacked some of the charm and “gotcha” moments you get in some of the better con movies. I also didn’t feel the chemistry was that great between the two main stars. If you love Will Smith or Margot Robbie or you can’t miss a con movie, it’s worth a rent.

Reviewed by: Phillip Lane on March 10, 2015