Focus film review: Will Smith and Margot Robbie star in conman caper

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Films about con artists can be tricky. Often the spark and charm is sucked out of the story not long after loving gazes are cast across crowded rooms and a string of dizzy double crosses ensues.

Fortunately Focus avoids all those clichés to deliver a smart and sexy story that sees Will Smith return to a charming and confident role for the first time in a while.

Smith stars as master conman Nicky who takes novice thief Jess under his wing to teach her the tricks of his trade. Jess learns quick and the pair’s relationship soon turns from business to romance, but when she grows too close for comfort Nick abruptly calls things off.

Three years later Jess is an accomplished femme fatale and turns up in the middle of Nicky’s latest high stakes scam on the race circuit. As the stakes reach dangerous levels Nicky’s feelings for Jess threaten to throw him off his game and land them both in danger…

Focus is near flawless as it delivers slick laughs and tense moments, often switching effortlessly between the two.

With scams of all sizes it would be difficult to keep up if it wasn’t for the sizzling dynamic between Will Smith and Margot Robbie.

The up and coming Robbie is stunning in every scene and proves she can keep up with the acting heavy weights. Smith oozes his trademark charisma and his unique blend of comedy and drama make this film highly enjoyable. But it’s Robbie’s ability to bounce around quips of her own to complement Smith’s wit that really take it to the next level.

Adrian Martinez also stands out as the openly perverse and foul mouthed Farhad who steals the lime light from Smith in several laugh out loud moments.

The script can be ludicrous in places and the plot a little cliché with twist after twist which, quite frankly, we couldn’t care about. It’s the chemistry between these characters that draws our focus with stunning backdrops from New York, New Orleans and Buenos Aires providing vibrant settings.

By the end you have no idea who is conning whom but with likeable characters and a healthy dose of comedy at just the right moments, what’s not to like?

Score = 4/5