Purportedly based on a real story, there are many things in Plastic which are anything but believable.
Sam and his friends are university students who moonlight as credit card fraudsters. When the group mess with the wrong target, they are forced to make a large amount of money to save themselves…
Julian Gilbey’s Plastic seemingly intends to be a glamourous caper with banter, girls and violence. Unfortunately, there are a number of issues with the film that hinder the audience’s enjoyment.
Foreshadowing in Plastic is heavy, leaving little suspense later in the film. Dialogue can be unconvincing at times, with exposition obvious on occasion. Attempts at humour are not that successful.
The end result in Plastic is not incomprehensible. However it is the chain of events that lets the film down. There are moments when the characters’ actions or plot developments seem ridiculous. The motive for Frankie’s involvement, for example, does not ring true. There would be no reason she would need to raise funds for the reason given in contemporary Britain. It is made all the more implausible by the fact that she eagerly jets away when there is not a reason for her to go.
Another problem with the film is that none of the characters are likeable. It is difficult to root for any of them, or to engender enough energy to dislike them. When Yatesey is meant to charm, and this happens on a few occasions, this charisma is not translated to the audience. This could be down to the miscasting of Alfie Allen in this role. Ed Speelers fares slightly better.
Plastic offers a level of gratuity that is made all the more overt by the use of slow motion. Towards the end of the film, there is a gregariously violent sequence which exhibits a commendable sense of energy with its outrageousness.
Plastic never bores its viewers, but its plotting ensues that it is too silly to be genuinely enjoyable as a crime caper.
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