Caught Stealing, 2025 - ★★★½
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Austin Butler is hot, alright, and if that doesn't seal the deal for you, hear me out: he's playing, and talking to a cat throughout the film. Honestly, who cares about the plot after discovering this perfect duo? LMAO
In all seriousness, though, I didn't like the direction this movie took. It struggles to decide between being dark and comedic, rather than effectively blending crime comedy with a gritty edge. The attempt to anchor the narrative with a tragic backstory for comedic punchlines and a redemption arc, while also letting Matt Smith dressed and behaving like kid cartoon characters in the same film, just didn't match well with me.
The push and pull between seriousness and absurdity seems to undercut and undermine each other's impact. Many scenes fail to heighten the tension, missing emotional beats, whether they are comedic or dramatic. In my opinion, they should have gone the crazier route instead of toning down the whole thing. They could have gone bonkers and more chaotic with this kind of plot, but it ended up feeling rather tame to me. The music was lackluster most of the time. Awkward silences dampened what should have been a crazy ride.
Despite this, Caught Stealing is highly entertaining, and I really liked its setting and vibe. The end credits, in particular, absolutely rocked. I wish that punk and chaotic energy had been present throughout the film itself, rather than just at the end. And as I mentioned, Austin Butler and the cat duo is reason enough to watch it. The combination of hot and adorable? Who could have resisted that!!?