“Don’t kill anybody unless absolutely necessary,” a rookie cop is advised on his first day in Greedy People. However, soon after, he unintentionally does just that, igniting a chain of deadly events that racks up an impressive body count in this darkly comic thriller.
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| Himesh Patel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 'Greedy People.' Courtesy of Lionsgate |
Sadly, as the characters continue to be eliminated, the film grows more tedious, and despite a strong cast, it ends up feeling like a Coen brothers' knockoff.
Set in a small island town instead of the snowy Midwest, this Fargo-esque story features a large cast of characters, most of whom are either delightfully immoral or simply foolish.
The intricate plot kicks off when the rookie cop, Will (Himesh Patel), answers an emergency call and almost shoots a woman (Traci Lords, which hints at the film’s irreverence) who’s just going about her kitchen routine. She panics, attacks him, and during the ensuing struggle, she ends up dead.
Will’s partner Terry (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, delighting in his character’s sleazy nature) persuades him to cover up the incident and pin the blame on a burglar, especially after they stumble upon $1 million in cash inside the house, which they decide to keep.
To complicate matters, it turns out that the woman's husband, a wealthy shrimp dealer (Tim Blake Nelson), had already hired a hitman to kill his wife so he could marry his lover (Nina Arianda). Naturally, he suspects a double-cross.
Before long, nearly everyone on the island becomes entangled in the mess, including a sleazy masseur (Simon Rex, from Red Rocket) whose services also cater to a sexual clientele; Will’s heavily pregnant wife (Lily James, reuniting with her Yesterday co-star Patel), who grows increasingly suspicious of Terry after he "accidentally" runs over her beloved dog; another hitman, "The Irishman" (Jim Gaffigan, unsuccessfully trying to appear menacing), who advertises his services on tear-off flyers that promise, "The Last Handyman You’ll Ever Need"; and the no-nonsense police chief (Uzo Aduba), essentially this film’s take on Frances McDormand’s Marge Gunderson.
Screenwriter Mike Vukadinovich (known for the Jim Carrey Showtime series Kidding and Rememory) strives for a black comedy tone and occasionally pulls it off, like when The Irishman remarks about his profession, "Even the most unpleasant job can be done ethically."
But more often than not, the effort feels labored as the film awkwardly tries to mix graphic violence with deadpan humor — exemplified by the title only appearing onscreen more than 20 minutes into the movie.
Director Potsy Ponciroli showcased his skill with the critically praised Western Old Henry, but he falls short with this one. The film lacks the bold stylization needed to accommodate its escalating absurdities (by the end, there are few survivors left, which doesn’t bode well for the island’s tourism) and is bogged down by a slew of unnecessary subplots.
Despite the dedicated efforts of its talented ensemble, Greedy People doesn't quite achieve its lofty ambitions. True to its name, it greedily tries to balance dark comedy with brutal violence but fails to deliver on both fronts.
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