It’s this sort of diversion which unfortunately makes the film drag.  Even at a mere 99 minutes, it feels much longer, with the action taking its own sweet time to unfold.  Fortunately, however, the acting is so astoundingly good that we’re willing to wait.  Gordon-Levitt, who came of age on the TV sitcom Third Rock from the Sun, has shown himself to be an extremely capable performer.  With this role, he draws us in and forges huge sympathy for Chris—despite a number of inconsistencies with his character (why is he allowed to drive, for example, since he can’t remember even basic sequences?).

Goode is also very adept with his American accent, showing us an entirely different side from the English playboy he last played in Woody Allen’s Match Point.  Likewise, Fisher gives a far more serious performance than the ding-a-ling she played in Wedding Crashers.  The rest of the cast all offer great performances as well, especially De Zio as “Deputy Ted.”

From a spiritual point of view, The Lookout sends the positive message that crime definitely does not pay—a rarity in thrillers, where the bad guys usually make out like, well, bandits.  Here, despite the evil villains, a hero eventually emerges—one who overcomes tremendous odds to do what is right, offering a rare yet powerful role model.  Unfortunately, the rest of the film’s content makes it inappropriate for children—but grownups need morally good protagonists, too.

Another upside to The Lookout is that it forces us to think about those in our midst who might be suffering from TBI.  This issue, which is rarely discussed in the media, affects more than 1.4 million people every year in the U.S.  A growing number of victims are soldiers returning from Iraq.  However, the overwhelming majority (more than 1 million per year) are children.

In the end, The Lookout is simply a different kind of thriller—one that has an indie feel to it, with lots of time spent on character development.  For those who prefer the standard Hollywood genre thriller, it’s sure to disappoint.  But for those who are willing to explore some interesting characters—and ponder the effects of TBI—The Lookout will likely be an engaging experience. 

AUDIENCE:  Adults

DVD EXTRAS: 

• “Sequencing the Lookout” Making-Of Featurette
• “Behind the Mind of Chris Pratt”
• Audio Commentary with writer/director Scott Frank and director of photography Alar Kivilo

CAUTIONS:

• Drugs/Alcohol:  Characters drink and smoke throughout film.
• Language/Profanity:  A number of profanities and obscenities – some strong.
• Sexual Content/Nudity:  Characters talk about having sex in crude, slang terms; character talks of being a former stripper, seduces a young man and then (brief spoiler here) is revealed to be sleeping with another man at the same time; female character appears in a nightgown and, in another scene, in her underwear.
• Violence:  Several characters have large guns that are loaded, then used to rob a bank; a character is threatened with guns; another is brutally killed during a shoot-out; various scenes in which characters lives’ are in mortal danger and some are shot and killed, including some blood.