REVIEW: Hustlers Is More Than Just A Hustle Film
Hustlers is a sparkly, intriguing film with an exceptionally strong performance by Jennifer Lopez. Directed by Lorene Scafaria and based on the New York Magazine article by Jessica Pressler, Hustlers is the story of Destiny (Constance Wu) and Ramona (Lopez). Destiny is struggling to just get by working as an exotic dancer and is in need of help. Ramona, played beautifully by Lopez, takes Destiny under her wing and shows her more than a few pole moves. Instead Destiny, Ramona, and the other dancers in the film become a family.
Destiny and Ramona’s friendship is put to the test when the 2008 recession hits. Desperate, they decide that the best way to earn more money is to con it out of the wealthy men that frequent their club. The women recruit two other strippers, Mercedes, played by Keke Palmer, and Annabelle, played by Lili Reinhart to help. As the cons become more dangerous and the money gets tight, Destiny realizes the family she thought she knew might just be as dirty as the men she is stealing from.
Scafaria does a good job at showcasing the difficulties these women faced during the recession and flips the stereotype of being a stripper on its head. These women are struggling to create a life for themselves and stripping is the only way they can earn enough to survive. The method behind the madness when it comes to the actual hustle is never fleshed out. Why Ramona was so desperate to change the game at half-time is unknown or why the other girls felt the need to join in on the con never comes to light.
What makes this film so interesting though is the focus on the relationship between Ramona and Destiny and not the hustle. As the film moves it’s way down the “green brick road”, as Ramona would say, viewers become engrossed in Destiny’s journey from new girl stripper to “CFO of her own f****** corporation”. The hustle becomes secondary.
Wu as Destiny, manages to wonderfully mix Destiny’s innocence, dependence, and ferocity. Viewers can’t help, but feel a little sorry for her when all is said and done. Lopez is brilliant in this film as Ramona, the ringleader of the this entire hustle. Her portrayal of the fierce, yet charming woman is played with such ease that she makes everyone around her look like rookies. Keke Palmer and Lili Reinhart round out the leading hustlers, Mercedes and Annabelle. Both ladies do well with the material given, but their characters are secondary characters.
The film is entertaining and worth seeing this weekend if you’re planning to go to the theater.
Grade: B