Film Review: EMILY THE CRIMINAL: Crime Pays with Audacity and a Little Luck [Sundance 2022]

Emily the Criminal

Emily the Criminal (2022) Film Review from the 45th Annual Sundance Film Festival, a movie directed by John Patton Ford, starring Audrey Plaza, Theo Rossi, Megalyn Echikunwoke, and Gina Gershon.

In the first few minutes of the film, one can certainly sympathize with Emily (Aubrey Plaza) and her frustration, whose past scrapes with the law constantly undermines her aspirations as a graphic artist.

It must be emphasized that her past legal troubles are only part of the problem. During her two opportunities for ‘real’ jobs, we find Emily cynical, confrontational, and impatient with euphemisms. She thinks nothing of hitting below the belt during her interviews when pressed to answer questions (which are not especially out of line), and things don’t go her way. Suddenly the conviction for aggravated assault she’s forced to admit to begins to make sense.

Not that Emily’s tirades don’t carry a modicum of truth peppered among the profanities and personal insults flung at her interviewers. Her arguments hold water well enough, one supposes, so far out of context as they are in the business world. It doesn’t take long to realize that Emily is more likely criminal by design rather than circumstance alone.

Everything taken into account, however, makes for an exciting ride for the audience as well as Emily herself as she finds both triumph and trouble in the world of crime.

With some trepidation she supplements her regular pizza delivery gig with credit card fraud, first in a short stint as a “dummy shopper,” which entails posing as a customer using the stolen cards. This role is short lived, however, starting with televisions and ending with a botched car scam in which she barely escapes.

She charms her boss Youcef (Theo Rossi) into letting her produce cards of her own, doing well enough that he takes her into his confidence as well as his bed. This adds a layer of tenderness to the story; the screen couple shares real spark and projects a loving rapport. One can’t help but root for Youcef’s enthusiasm in wanting to put his scamming career behind him, to become an upscale landlord, banking (literally) on a refurbishing an apartment house.

In the middle of these nefarious escapades, Emily’s best friend, Liz (Megalyn Echikunwoke) makes good on a longstanding promise to get her an interview with her boss for a shot at a prestigious internship. When learning that this would be a full-time, non-paying position for about six months (not unusual for entree into this business), Emily launches into full-fledged audacity mode that ends with her special style of four-lettered grandstanding we’ve come to know and love. (It’s odd, however, that Liz did not apprise Emily ahead of time.) But at this point, Emily’s aggression may be better justified, having toughened up her persona in the wake of her criminal activities.

An interesting aspect of Emily’s character is how she deals with Youcef with regard to both his natural and business families. Emily’s meeting with Youcef’s mother, Luna (Sheila Korsi) is one of the truly light-hearted exchanges until Youcef’s business partners arrive. Emily’s instincts are honed with each encounter. She’s circumspect and noncommittal in her dealings with Youcef’s partners when they declare her incompetence has compromised their entire scheme.

Youcef defends her, consistently and gallantly, until a scuffle convinces him to take the money and run (it’s in the millions) only to discover that his partners had beat him to it. Once aware of the facts, Emily refuses to indulge Youcef’s despair and brow-beats him into a plan to recover the money. This plan, despite stabbings and gunshots, works so well that (after a moment of indecision and ultimate regret) she abandons Youcef to his injuries and the police. She hauls the recovered money over the border into Mexico, where she becomes boss of her own fake credit card scheme.

John Patton Ford presents us with an absorbing tale, full of action and suspense. He has brought together a remarkably talented team that helps gloss over some of the more questionable logistics. Aubrey Plaza in particular combines opportunity, instinct, quite a bit of luck, and emerging skill at a moment’s notice to forge the character of Emily.

Rating: 8/10

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