‘Masterminds’ A No-Brainer
Despite its title, “Masterminds” is neither a masterful nor clever action adventure about a 16-year-old cyberhacker (Vincent Kartheiser) who thwarts the elaborate plan of a vengeful security expert (Patrick Stewart) to hold a private school for ransom.
Ridiculously plotted and boasting across-the-board dumb dialogue, it’s a safe bet this shot-in-Vancouver effort won’t be adding to Sony’s summer booty, although some back-to-schoolers may find cathartic pleasure in the destruction of an educational institution.
Kartheiser plays Ozzie Paxton, a smart-ass borderline juvenile delinquent who was probably “Home Alone’s” Kevin McCallister as a kid and will likely grow up to be “Die Hard’s” John McClane. Forced to drop off his pesky little stepsister (Katie Stuart) at posh Shady Glen School (where he was expelled for unacceptable behavior), Ozzie decides to hang around and see what pranks he can pull for old-times’ sake.
Little does he realize that Ralph Bentley (Stewart), the British Secret Service-trained designer of the school’s new ultrasophisticated security system, has been scheming to use the high-tech equipment to keep people in rather than others out. For reasons too complicated to get into here, Bentley holds the school’s top trust-fund kiddies hostage in exchange for millions of dollars.
Of course, being the lone-wolf underachiever that he is, the smirking Ozzie finds redemption by putting his computer game strategies to effective work, outwitting Bentley at every opportunity.
Former art director-set decorator Roger Christian directs with a certain visual flair, although he has a definite weakness for shafts of light and cropped close-ups.
xxxx “Masterminds” Locations: East Sprague, North Division and Showboat Credits: Directed by Roger Christian, starring Patrick Stewart, Vincent Kartheiser, Brenda Fricker, Brad Whitford, Matt Craven, Annabelle Gurwitch Running time: 1:46 Rating: PG-13