Review: Thriller 'Emily the Criminal' is an Aubrey Plaza showcase

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Emily the Criminal
4 out of 5 Stars
Director: John Patton Ford
Writers: John Patton Ford
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Theo Rossi, Bernardo Badillo
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Rated: R for language, some violence and brief drug use.

Studio Synopsis: Emily (Aubrey Plaza) is saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record. Desperate for income, she takes a shady gig as a “dummy shopper,” buying goods with stolen credit cards supplied by a handsome and charismatic middleman named Youcef (Theo Rossi). Faced with a series of dead-end job interviews, Emily soon finds herself seduced by the quick cash and illicit thrills of black-market capitalism, and increasingly interested in her mentor Youcef. Together, they hatch a plan to bring their business to the next level in Los Angeles.

Review: Aubrey Plaza stars as Emily, a woman crippled by student debt and a felony conviction. She’s abrasive and driven. Strong in the wake of what she views as a moment of weakness. Her penchant for terrible decisions forces her to be quick on her feet. She’s not particularly likeable. Not even when you feel sympathy for her. She doesn’t want your sympathy anyway. She’s long since stopped caring. Well, that’s what she’d like you to believe.

Emily needs money and freelancing as a food delivery person isn’t providing it. So, she takes a tip from a co-worker and throws herself headfirst into the world of credit card fraud.

I’m often surprised by how much I like Plaza as an actress. She’s made a few films that I despised, but that’s not a reflection of her talent. She holds nothing back and I appreciate that.

I also appreciate the way that director/writer John Patton Ford’s script gives the audience an incomplete picture of Emily. The fragments we are given are good enough to convey who she is. We’ll never know who she once was because the first scene establishes that she’s not a reliable narrator. Emily’s relationship with high school and art college friend Liz (Megalyn Echikunwoke) reveals a lot about the state of their friendship without really giving a sense of their past. I’d like to think this was intentional, rather than a shallow pass at the characters.

Regardless, the film is more interested in exploring Emily’s new relationship with Youcef (Theo Rossi), her contact who ushers her into a life of crime. Initially, she comes to him, but the balance of power is constantly shifting. Youcef isn't who he presents himself as. His laidback demeanor hides away the truth of his situation. He, like Emily, is trying to wrestle control away from the obstacles that surround him . Two parasites and one messy situation.

“Emily the Criminal” is a character drama with a fair amount of crime related tension. It's not a bad feature debut for Ford, but I don't know if it would work with a lesser lead. Fortunately, he and the audience don't have to worry about that. Plaza is perfectly capable of carrying the narrative to the finish line.