Review: ‘The Instigators’ is a Consistently Entertaining Boston Buddy Caper

While there’s something sleek and appealing about watching the perfect heist get pulled off, there’s a reason most movies choose to focus on what goes wrong rather than how it all goes right. The fallout of a botched job is rarely pleasant, and there are plenty of collateral damage and loose ends that need to be cleaned up. The Instigators presents a lighthearted take on that messy scenario, following two hapless Bostonians who essentially stumble into the unfortunate aftermath of what was supposed to be a very quick and simple job.

Rory (Matt Damon) and Cobby (Casey Affleck) are not living their best lives. All Rory cares about is getting a specific sum of money to make things right with his teenage son, and Cobby is just out of prison and struggling to find any friends willing to give him another chance. Their circumstances make them the perfect candidates to participate in a large-scale robbery on the night of the expected reelection of the corrupt Boston mayor (Ron Perlman), employing just fifteen minutes of their time for a considerable payout. Predictably, things do not go as planned, and Rory and Cobby soon find themselves on the run as the most wanted men in Massachusetts.

Director Doug Liman, reuniting with his The Bourne Identity star Damon more than two decades after that career-vaulting film, has segued back and forth between comedies and action films throughout his career. While his latest does contain its fair share of senseless explosions and illogical car chases, the focus here is on comedy. Rory and Cobby bicker for almost the entirety of the movie, uninterested in asking each other legitimate questions and instead seemingly intent on competing to deliver the best pointed insult.

Damon and Affleck are no stranger to Boston, both natives of the area and forever linked to the city from their formative performances in Good Will Hunting and Manchester by the Sea, respectively. This film more resembles The Departed in its sense of humor and the banter in which its characters tirelessly engage, though its depiction of local and political corruption is far more cartoonish. The city of Boston is a marvelous playground for their misadventures, the perfect setting for a dizzying car chase in a place where even driving under normal conditions is quite stressful and unappealing.

Damon and Affleck are both doing something particular and not too unfamiliar to them here, with Damon acting relatively sheepish and uncertain while Affleck couldn’t seem to care less, employing minimal effort in a way that works well for his character. It’s amusing to watch Rory take notes while he’s involved in casing the target, and Cobby doesn’t appear to have any regard for anyone around him, which makes him a watchable loose cannon. Together, they’re a fun pair, hardly delivering something worthy of their past Oscar mentions but understanding this assignment just fine.

The supporting cast is populated by a wealth of impressive names, including Alfred Molina, Toby Jones, and Paul Walter Hauser in small but memorable roles. Michael Stuhlbarg is chewing as much scenery as his excessive Boston accent will allow, not quite as jarring as his work in Bones and All. It’s good to see Ving Rhames out of the Mission: Impossible universe having a good time as a tank-driving detective. Hong Chau is the best reason to see this film, portraying Rory’s therapist, who initially comes off as straight-laced and professional but soon reveals a pricklier, spunkier side that lets Chau flex her comedic muscles.

As much as its plot tends to wander and lose some sight of reality, The Instigators is perfectly good fun. It doesn’t let up once it gets going, continuing to follow its characters down their increasingly convoluted rabbit holes. Liman knows how to guide action pieces and does so serviceably here, guiding a film that probably is best suited for a home viewing watch on Apple TV+. It also makes for a decent theatrical experience, putting to good use a snappy script from Affleck and Chuck MacLean. Suspension of disbelief is key, but this film’s pace is solid and inviting enough to keep audiences distracted for the length of its hijinks.

Movie Rating: 7/10

Awards Buzz: Damon and Affleck may be Oscar winners but shouldn’t expect to collect more trophies for this film. While it does feature a handful of Oscar and Emmy winners and nominees, this won’t be an awards magnet, but it does make for solid summer fun!