Wolfs Review : Brad Pitt and George Clooney entertain, but this film is no cinematic gem

Story: After a male prostitute is presumed dead at a luxury hotel, two fixers are sent to clean up the crime scene. Trouble begins when they find him alive, with drugs hidden in his bag.

Review: When a film is headlined by superstars like Brad Pitt and George Clooney, high expectations are inevitable. While ‘Wolfs’ may not fully meet those expectations, it provides enough moments to keep you entertained. The movie is a light, enjoyable watch that doesn’t stay with you after it ends, but the witty banter and rivalry between the two leads are fun to watch. The plot is simple and far from original, but the two stars’ presence keeps you engaged. Director Jon Watts had the challenge of balancing their roles and ultimately makes the obvious choice of the two characters mirroring each other. Yes, there’s a scene in the film where the two superstars sit across from each other in a diner, but instead of focusing on them, you can’t help but think of the dynamic between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in ‘Heat.’

The film’s plot centers on two professional fixers, referred to in the film as Pam’s Man (Brad Pitt) and Margaret’s Man (George Clooney). In a panic, Margaret, a high-powered attorney, contacts her fixer (Margaret’s Man) after a young male prostitute is found dead in her luxury hotel room. The fixer instructs her not to touch anything until he arrives. As he begins cleaning up the crime scene, he is caught off guard when another fixer (Pam’s Man) enters to do the same job. After an argument, the two decide to cooperate. When Pam’s Man discovers a satchel full of drugs, the situation quickly escalates. Things become even more complicated when they realize the young male prostitute (Austin Abrams, referred to as the Kid) is still alive. Following orders from hotel owner Pamela Dowd-Henry to deliver the drugs to their rightful owner, the fixers are thrown into a chaotic night involving Albanian gangsters.

It’s one of those films that balances the spotlight equally between its stars, with the plot consistently focused on them. George Clooney and Brad Pitt feel relaxed in their roles, portraying their characters with sincerity. However, the screenplay lacks tension and edginess, limiting their impact. As a result, the film comes across as a standard offering—neither exceptional nor terrible. Rather than delivering standout performances, the two actors seem to enjoy each other's company, which may appeal to devoted fans but might not resonate with true film lovers. In the midst of this star-studded dynamic, Austin Abrams stands out as the Kid, providing a genuinely natural performance alongside the two leading figures. Poorna Jagannathan, despite her brief role as the doctor, manages to leave a mark.

While the screenplay has its shortcomings, certain scenes in the film truly shine. The sequence when the two fixers and the Kid visit a hotel to rent a room is bound to make you chuckle, especially when they are presented with choices like Love Nest, Arabian Nights, or Safari. Later, the forced dance at an Albanian gangster’s daughter’s wedding featuring both Clooney and Pitt’s characters is downright hilarious. The chase scene, where they attempt to retrieve the Kid after his escape, is also well-crafted. ‘Wolfs’ is enjoyable mainly for the captivating presence of its two superstars, who provide plenty of entertainment, but the film itself remains uneven. It’s a missed opportunity that director Jon Watts didn’t recruit a third fixer behind the camera to iron out the screenplay's flaws.