Among all streaming services, Apple TV+ is the one that comes closest to the motto “quality over quantity.” Compared to Netflix, Max, Disney+, or Prime Video, the “apple network” doesn’t produce as much content – ugh, hate that word – but the average quality of its films and series is arguably higher than the others. Why? I believe it comes down to the right choice of projects and the artists involved. After all, who wouldn’t be excited about a movie like Wolfs, written and directed by Jon Watts (Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy) and starring an iconic duo like George Clooney (Gravity) and Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)?
The intrigue starts with the title: Wolfs. Why not Wolves? The premise quickly provides a natural explanation. Clooney plays a professional fixer hired to “clean up” a crime scene. But when a second fixer (Pitt) shows up, and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, their night quickly spirals out of control in ways neither of them could have anticipated.
Wolfs is the latest example of how it’s possible to recycle tried-and-true narrative formulas successfully by executing them in a captivating manner, and in the case of the action-comedy genre, with immense entertainment value. Thematically and narratively, Watts’ script doesn’t offer major surprises, deep or complex character arcs, or particularly unique messages. It’s a sort of buddy cop flick, but instead of the protagonists being entirely different personalities, Clooney and Pitt play characters that are essentially alike.
From not sharing their names throughout the entire film to keeping personal “tricks” secret in order to prove they’re better at the same job, Wolfs is at its best when it lets the lead actors play off each other with endless amounts of sarcasm, irony, and banter. Luckily, most of the runtime is spent on this constant back-and-forth between the duo, elevating an experience that could have easily been forgettable due to the overall predictability of the generic story.
Even artistically, no technical department truly stands out. Personally, Theodore Shapiro’s (Severance) score comes close to stealing the spotlight, but it’s the choice of specific songs that really impacts the audience, humorously accompanying some of the chase sequences. But there’s no escaping the fact that Wolfs works mainly as a masterclass in on-screen acting by Clooney and Pitt.
The chemistry between the actors is so undeniable that it wouldn’t be surprising if many of the movie’s funniest moments came from improvisation. From the first moment these characters meet in a hotel room, Wolfs instantly ramps up its entertainment levels – I won’t soon forget how Clooney uses duct tape to effortlessly wrap a body in plastic or a hotel luggage cart to lift that same body off the ground with impressive efficiency.
Still, Austin Abrams (Euphoria) does manage to steal the show from the dynamic duo with a fantastic performance as a disoriented kid who doesn’t quite know where he is or what to do. Abrams even delivers a monologue that is as challenging as it is funny. The young actor deserves as much praise as the older ones. All in all, it’s a film for all audiences, full of fun to spare.
Final Thoughts on Wolfs
Wolfs is one of the most recommendable films of the year. Though it doesn’t reinvent the wheel in the action-comedy genre, it stands out for the undeniable chemistry between George Clooney and Brad Pitt, who elevate a generic yet incredibly entertaining script. Jon Watts keeps the pacing agile and fun, capitalizing on the never-ending banter between the protagonists to offer moments of sarcastic, ironic enjoyment. Austin Abrams also deserves recognition as a pleasant surprise, perfectly balancing naivety and comedy. Ultimately, it’s a light, accessible movie for all audiences.
Rating: B+
Wolfs is now playing in limited theaters. It will be on Apple TV+ on September 27, 2024.
Learn more about the film, including how to watch it, at the Apple TV+ site.
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