THE CODE (a.k.a. THICK AS THIEVES)

Despite the high stakes and a variety of plot twists, the movie always feels overly complicated and slow.

The Code is one of those star-powered movies that seems like it should be awesome, but somehow managed to go directly to video in the United States. With Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas in the leading roles, we're trained to expect good things, but The Code doesn't quite make for a satisfying viewing experience. Despite the high stakes and a variety of plot twists, the movie always feels overly complicated and slow.

When Ripley (Morgan Freeman) spots Gabriel (Antonio Banderas) pulling off the same jewelry heist he was planning, the mental wheels begin turning. Clearly Gabriel is every bit as skilled in the realm of thievery as Ripley is, and together they could probably pull off some pret-ty impressive jobs. First up is the theft of two Faberge eggs that are locked up and guarded so elaborately that the task may as well be impossible. Pooling their skills, Ripley and Gabriel plan every step of the robbery to the letter. They attempt to prepare for every imaginable disaster, and indeed they come quite close to succeeding. However, there are some scenarios that even the most seasoned thief cannot anticipate.

Upon meeting Ripley's goddaughter (Radha Mitchell), Gabriel promptly falls head over heels in love. Their relationship is as playful and flirty as it is steamy, but somehow Gabriel seems slightly more invested in the whole affair. He and Ripley are both distressed to learn that she's been kidnapped by the KGB, and the egg heist takes on even greater importance with her safety in danger. Will they be able to steal the eggs and save her life? Will they even be able to save themselves? As the third act of the movie unfolds, we learn that there are many more pressing questions to ponder. Most importantly - is anyone in this movie who they say they are?

I'm inclined to say that the movie is really smart, but there's something exclusive about the whole thing. Somehow it seems as though the entire film is set up for the benefit of the characters instead of the audience. Ripley and Gabriel might be sweating bullets or having the time of their lives, but rather than grabbing viewers by the hand and taking them along for the ride, the action is confined to the screen. Without creating a connection to us, what transpires is only of passing interest, and fails to elicit an emotional reaction.