Henry Torne (Keanu Reeves) is a lost soul. He hates his life and wants something more than what life has currently tossed his way. It should also be noted that Henry isn't the brightest bulb on the string of lights. He's easily duped into driving the getaway car for his friend, Eddie (Fisher Stevens), when he decides to rob a bank and rather than argue his innocence, he decides a trip to jail is just the thing he needs to kick start his dull life.
Truth is, Henry is partially right. While in jail, he meets Max (James Caan), a "life-long prisoner" who has little interest in leaving jail. Henry and Max strike up a friendship and, after a little convincing from Henry, the duo decides to actually commit the crime Henry already did time for and rob a bank.
The plot is ridiculous, though I'm willing to suspend some disbelief for it. Henry and Max get jobs at a theatre next to the bank. Henry soon falls for an actress, Julie (Vera Farmiga), kicking off a bit of a love story amidst the heist story.
While I am willing to accept the heist plot (I've seen worse), I have a really hard time accepting the characters. They're either the smartest people on the planet and I'm simply not on their level, or they're all dullards. Henry is slow, which makes sense for the plot, but it seems every character in the film is working with a slight learning disability, leading to a couple of incredibly awkward moments and some gaping plotholes. The setup is interesting and shows a lot of potential; it definitely goes somewhere, though the trip is wobbly and fraught with massive breakdowns. What begins as a bank heist movie somehow morphs into a romance. The caper is the interesting part, so it shouldn't play backseat to a weaker sub-plot.
One of the few bright spots is the acting. Though the assembled cast has certainly turned in better work, all do a good job. Caan does the best job; he's slick and smart as Max. He's also a nice counter to Reeves, who gives his usual emotionless performance. If you've seen a Keanu Reeves drama, you know what you're getting.
Reeves' casting may be one of the film's biggest issues. He's just not cut out for the type of character Henry is supposed to be. Henry is a nervous character, a stark contrast to the stone-faced Reeves. Based on past performances, I actually think Fisher Stevens would have made a better Henry. He would have at least sold the comedic aspect a little better.
Vera Farmiga is excellent, though she's a better actress than the movie allows, which is a shame.
Other than a couple of trailers, there are no extras. The Blu-ray transfer is good. The blue color palette has a nice bit of pop and there's a great bit of detail.
Henry's Crime is a great concept, but does very little with the idea. Plotholes, bad dialogue and unlikeable characters hamper what could be a neat heist movie.
