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Parents' Guide to

Fast Charlie

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Brisk, funny, and entertaining -- but bloody -- crime movie.

Movie NR 2023 90 minutes
Fast Charlie Movie Poster: Charlie Swift (Pierce Brosnan), wearing a crisp brown suit and sunglasses, stands next to a car

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This crime tale uses many familiar elements, but, under the guidance of director Phillip Noyce, it feels crisp, fleet-footed, and spirited, adding up to a solid, entertaining B-movie. After an unnecessary flash-forward to a later climactic moment, Fast Charlie -- which is based on a novel by Victor Gischler -- may win you over early on with some unexpectedly bloody and funny moments. From there, even though the usual "looking for a piece of evidence" and "getting revenge" elements don't change, the characters are drawn with such bold, confident strokes and are so likable that they power through, making it all feel fresh. (It recalls Elmore Leonard's best stories.)

In particular, Brosnan and Baccarin make a great team, he tentatively sensing a connection, and she asserting herself, refusing to be put in a box. Supporting characters aren't onscreen long enough to make a huge impact -- Noyce has chosen speed (the movie runs 90 sturdy minutes) over atmosphere -- but there's a good shorthand at work. We know enough about them. It's this overall expert balance of humor, violence, and character that make Fast Charlie so much effortless fun.

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