Chris Hemsworth (left) and Halle Berry (right) star in “Crime 101” (Photo Credit: Merrick Morton/2025 Amazon MGM Studios Content Services, LLC).
(“Crime 101” trailer courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios and Chris Hemsworth)
“Crime 101” implies a beginner’s course to illegal activity.
When a person is new to something, their performance is usually awkward and unsuccessful.
But the movie “Crime 101” definitely is not a depiction of novice criminals.
“Crime 101” includes some of the smoothest criminals California has ever seen.
And even when the 101 robber includes beginners in his felonious capers, the smoothness becomes contagious, possibly making them some of the coolest and likable criminals in a long time.
Very few people are just born to be criminals.
Although some straight-up evil people do exist, many people find themselves resorting to a life of crime because of the situation they were born in.
In “Crime 101,” Davis (Chris Hemsworth, “Extraction”) is one of those people who could have been much more in life if life had given him more opportunities as an adolescent.
Davis comes from a stressful past.
But he is so guarded that he refuses to let anyone close enough to discover his true self.
He often hooks up with call girls.
But when does date a normal person like Angie (Jennifer Jason Leigh, “White Boy Rick”), his date is surprised by the lack of personality in his home.
He has no pictures of his family in his house.
In “Crime 101,” Davis admits to having a family like everyone else.
However, he does not really know where they are at the present time.
Davis has a social awkwardness about him that would be a turn off for most women.
But something about him allows him to succeed with the ladies despite the weird vibe that he gives off.
But Davis gives off a weird vibe, and refuses to get close to people, because of the line of work that he is in.
Davis is a thief.
And not just a regular smash and grab thief.
He is a high-tech thief.
When he steals, he does jobs that rake in millions of dollars.
And he does so without using violence.
Sure, he keeps a weapon on him.
But he has never fired his weapon in on of his high-stakes criminal escapades.
So far, Davis has committed the perfect crimes.
And only one police officer Lou (Mark Ruffalo, “Avengers: Endgame”) has the gut feeling that all the robberies committed off the 101 highway in the “Golden State” are attributed to the same lone wolf.
Unfortunately, perfection often does not last long.
And every criminal is one mistake away from blowing their cover at any given time.
Furthermore, many criminals do not know when to walk away from their lives of crime, even once they have become wealthy from their thefts.
But Davis does have some common sense to his criminality.
When he does not feel good about a planned crime in Santa Barbara, Calif., he finds himself on the bad side of his boss and mentor who took him from a life of poverty to a life of opulence.
As a result of Davis’ insubordination, his mentor puts a spy named Ormon (Barry Keoghan, “The Batman”) on him to find out what Davis’ next move will be.
Once the spy finds out who Davis’ next robbery victim is, the spy’s job is to rob Davis after he completes the next robbery.
And although Davis often commits his crimes with very little help, he may have found the best accomplice for his next robbery in the form of Sharon (Halle Berry, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle”), a frustrated insurance agent who has seen promotions that she deserved go to men and younger women.
With her knowledge of high-end art and jewelry and her relationship with the ultra-wealthy, Sharon might want to get her get-back by helping Davis and ride off into the sunset.
Unfortunately, the spy is much more violent than Davis has ever been, putting everyone in danger of capture or worse.
What makes “Crime 101” stand out is the suaveness of the crimes and some of the characters.
Davis is not as cool and smooth as any of the characters in the 2010 movie “Takers.”
But he is up there when it comes to coolness level.
The movie has some hints of “Set it Off” too.
Some people have no intention of ever resorting to a life of crime.
But sometimes frustration and/or lack of support or appreciation on the job can force some people to say screw it and go for broke, regardless of the consequences.
Furthermore, cooperation or turning a blind eye to a potential crime is needed to pull off a robbery in “Set it Off.”
The same inside job might be needed if Davis is able to pull off his biggest heist yet.
It might even need police cooperation like in “Set it Off.”
But in “Set it Off,” an unexpected theft and possibly not knowing how to ride off into the sunset led to the ultimate demise of most of the main characters.
Will the same happen in “Crime 101?”
Regardless of the outcome, moviegoers will root for Davis in “Crime 101” like they did for Stony (Jada Pinkett Smith), Cleo (Queen Latifah), Frankie (Vivica A. Fox) and Tisean (Kimberly Elise) in the 1996 crime movie classic.
And although “Crime 101” is a bit long, the action and drama will keep audiences at the edge of their seats as they are treated to a crash course on the high-tech crimes of the 21st century.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
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