Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, a blue-collar will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.

‘How to Make a Killing’ is the latest film to star the prolific Glen Powell, in this enjoyable caper about an outcast member of a wealthy New York family who is heir to the family fortune – the only challenge being if he doesn’t want to wait until he’s elderly to receive his inheritance, then bumping his relatives off one by one is his only expedited route to the money. He is Becket Redfellow, a charming individual who we first meet on death row, where he recounts the events that led him to this point to a priest.

This darkly comedic set up may sound familiar as this is indeed a loose remake of the Ealing comedy classic ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’, and while it never ever threatens to approach the level of that film, it understands the appeal of its premise. Much as I like Glen Powell, he’s no Alec Guinness, and the film wisely avoids inviting direct comparison by keeping him in a single role rather than attempting the multiple-character gimmick. Powell brings enough charm and self-awareness to make Becket watchable, even as the story moves along a fairly predictable path.

That predictability doesn’t stop it from being good fun, though, and there’s an enjoyment in watching Becket’s plan play out, even if you can see most of the key moments coming. The film keeps things light on its feet, focusing more on tone and performance than on trying to surprise the audience and I think that’s for the best when the premise is as straightforward and as familiar as this. It has a good supporting cast, with Ed Harris at the head of the family, and the likes of Bill Camp and Topher Grace appearing as other Redfellow’s that stand in Becket’s way.

Margaret Qualley plays the femme fatale figure at the centre of the story, and while she’s clearly well suited to this type of role, the character itself feels a bit one-note given how central she is to the plot. She brings presence and energy, but there’s a sense that the film could have done more with her beyond the basics of the archetype. Jessica Henwick fares a little better as Becket’s love interest, though she, like every other character, is bent around to suit the plot more than being a worthy character in her own right.

I did like ‘How to Make a Killing’ and I felt the time watching it flew by for the most part, so while it is never going to escape the shadow of its inspiration, let alone surpass it, it was a pretty entertaining film for my money.

Rating: 3/5

Directed By: John Patton Ford

Starring: Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace and Ed Harris 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4357198/