Roger is a stock broker who, along with a few of his co-workers, gets caught in an under-the-table deal. As Roger and his buddy Jason (Nick Lachey) try to figure out a way to avoid jail time, their boss, Ed (Peter Weller, Robocop) presents them with an opportunity to avoid jail and make a little extra money on the side. Ed is in cahoots with a Los Angeles jeweler who tips him in on a diamond shipment. The two plan an easy, inside job which Roger and Jason reluctantly join.
Meanwhile, Paul is a washed-up gambler who is in-debt up to his neck. After a run-in with a mobster, his friend, Vinnie (Gary Busey) offers him a chance to get out of his trouble by hooking up with Gene (Bruce Dern) for a jewelry heist. Gene has the same inside information as Ed, setting both groups after the same prize at the exact same time.
The Hard Easy begins in the middle of the botched robbery and then relates Paul and Roger's parallel stories through a series of flashbacks. Although the two seem completely different at first glance, their problems aren't that different. Both are "gamblers" in their own respects who can't get enough. While Paul is desperate for that next big jackpot, Roger is desperate for that next big money deal so he can hold on to his yuppie life. These connections are what really help to pull the story together.
The biggest problem facing The Hard Easy is that the cast lacks that cohesiveness that makes heist movies, like The Italian Job or Ocean's 11, work. Since the movie follows two different teams of crooks, there isn't enough time to really flesh out their personalities, which leads to several awkward, overacted moments. David Boreanaz and Henry Thomas give the movie's best performances and are believable in their fish-out-of-water roles. Meanwhile the rest of the cast turn in decent performances though some, like Bruce Dern and Peter Weller, are a little too over the top. In most cases, this results in excessive use of the "F-word." I don't mind foul language, but there are times where it simply sounds silly - like when a kid learns his first "bad word" and can't stop repeating it.
Also featured is commentary by director Ari Ryan and producer Scott Gold as well as a Behind-the-Scenes look with the director.
If you're a fan of heist movies, The Hard Easy is watchable, though it never seems to find its stride. While the story and some twists are entertaining, they are either too predictable or come from so far out of left field they are a little too unbelieveable.
