21 (2008)

"The true story of MIT whiz kids who developed a system to take Las Vegas blackjack tables for all they were worth gets the big screen make over in 21. Under the tutelage of college professor and former card counter extraordinaire Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey), five college kids battle not only the mathematical odds, but Vegas security, internal divisions and their own mentor in this flick about gambling’s highs and lows. The cast and filmmakers have a juicy piece of source material to work with, but can their adaptation match the giddy thrills of gambling in the real world?"

"The human-interest complications are unconvincing and Spacey himself, I'm afraid, is a lugubrious and deadening presence."

"There are moments where Spacey and Bosworth have their fun in spite of the film -- they both adopt Southern "characters" as disguises at one point, which is a hoot -- but overall, 21 is a busted hand."

"There are some very funny moments, a nice twist or two and solid performances from Spacey (who doesn't have to do much to steal a scene), Fishburne and Sturgess, but overall, as hard as it might try, 21 is a few cards short of a winning hand."

"The Ocean’s Eleven: The College Years mood makes for a breezy good time, even if there is, like Vegas, precious little substance beneath the glitz."

"A competent seat filler that will last in your memory about as long as the bus ride home. Which is a pity, because it should have been a cracker."

"The strong performances and fascinating plot still shine through the slack pace and predictable plotting, but with a little more artistic ambition this could have been something special."

"Luketic shoots the action at the tables with the requisite flashiness, boldly defying the laws of probability to make mathematics sexy."