"The Instigators" coasts along on actors' charm until it's just over

The Instigators (2024)

"The Instigators" lives up to its forgettable title. On paper, it boasts all of the right components for a rompish crime caper with a familiar Boston flavor — it’s very Bostonian. Director Doug Liman reunites with Matt Damon (Jason Bourne, himself), who gets paired up with his best friend’s brother (Casey Affleck) and leads an outstanding ensemble of character actors. It isn’t a bad film, nor is it a great film, but one that’s just sort of there. 

Everything points to the middling script by screenwriters Chuck Maclean and Casey Affleck, seemingly coasting on the easygoing charm of Damon and Affleck. Rory (Damon) is a former Marine-turned-floor sander desperate to reunite with his son and on the verge of suicide. He needs the specific amount of $32,480. He and Cobby (Affleck), an ex-con and bar owner, are brought together by local crime boss Mr. Besagai (Michael Stuhlbarg) for a job. It’s an elaborate heist to rob Boston’s mayor (Ron Perlman) during an election-night victory party. The scheme does not go as planned, and then at some point, the unlikely buddies take Rory’s therapist (Hong Chau) as a willing hostage to get themselves out of this mess. 

The first act is actually a lot of fun, and there’s some real tension mixed in with Coen Brothers-adjacent humor. This is where the heist itself unfolds, including how it’s supposed to play out (Rory takes notes) and then how it actually goes down. Practically brothers by now, Damon and Affleck are agreeably well-matched here as inexperienced sad-sack Rory and the crime-savvy Cobby. They’re an endearing pair, and an unflappable Hong Chau makes for an appealing third wheel. The main highlight might be Michael Stuhlbarg, who’s hilariously snarky and volatile as the heist’s mastermind, a Southie bakery owner. After that botched robbery, "The Instigators" just kind of meanders as if it’s running out of steam and not in a hurry. It’s essentially a long chase, with an extended car chase even having its thrilling moments (complete with an unexpected needle drop of Petula Clark’s “Downtown”). 

Grade: C

Apple TV+ released "The Instigators" (101 min.) on August 9, 2024.