Plot
Underachiever Nick (Eisenberg) is a small-town pizza delivery driver with no ambitions beyond hanging out with his best friend Chet (Ansari), who’s trying to grow up. However, when Nick delivers a pizza to two wannabe criminals (McBride, Swanson) in need of cash, they strap a bomb to his chest and force him to rob a bank for them…
Review
After the pleasant surprise that was Zombieland, the re-teaming of director Ruben Fleischer and leading man Jesse Eisenberg was a very promising one which had many of us hoping for another funny, free-wheeling affair. Unlike its slacker protagonist though, 30 Minutes Or Less (somewhat ironically) fails to deliver, with Fleischer offering a surprisingly slight and curiously underwhelming caper comedy which isn’t nearly as funny as it needs to be.
Whilst the pace is zippy and the likeable, straighter-haired Jesse Eisenberg is watchable as always (despite a complete lack of chemistry between him and Aziz Ansari), it’s hard not to be disappointed by this as a follow-up. In truth, Zombieland was a tad overrated by some critics, but Fleisher’s second picture is content to coast along on a series of increasingly escalating escapades and sweary broad humour, the latter of which ‘relies’ on knob gags and Danny McBride’s disgruntled man-child schtick. At times we see flashes of the same energy and momentum, but ultimately this buddy farce isn’t nearly as tasty as the last order.
Verdict
Though not unwatchable or hateful, 30 Minutes Or Less is a surprisingly slight and curiously underwhelming follow-up to Zombieland.
