The Comedy of Errors (Without the Comedy)
If you're scrolling through Hoopla and see two of the most charismatic actresses in Hollywood on the thumbnail, it’s easy to think you’ve found a safe bet for family movie night. But The Hustle is the cinematic equivalent of a "get rich quick" scheme—it promises a lot of fun and delivers almost nothing. The 13% critic score isn't just a harsh take; it's a reflection of a movie that doesn't seem to know who its audience is.
It tries to lean into the "girl boss" energy of women outsmarting mediocre men, but the jokes are so dated and crude that the message gets buried under a mountain of cringe. If your teen is a fan of the lead actresses from their more successful projects, they might be the ones pushing for this. Before you commit, check out our guide to Rebel Wilson’s hits and misses to see how this stacks up against her actually funny work.
The Friction for Parents
The PG-13 rating here is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Most of the time, that rating implies some action or a few stray swear words. Here, it’s almost entirely about crude sexual humor. It isn't just one or two off-color jokes; the entire plot revolves around seduction as a weapon, and the dialogue is packed with innuendo that ranges from "eye-roll" to "genuinely awkward to watch with your parents."
The movie also relies heavily on physical gags that feel mean-spirited rather than clever. There’s a long-running bit involving faking a disability that feels particularly out of touch. If you’re looking for a comedy that handles adult themes with a bit more grace or actual wit, this isn't it. It’s in the same category as The Change-Up—another movie that takes a proven comedy trope and fills it with enough crass material to make it unwatchable for a general family audience.
Better Alternatives for the "Con" Vibe
If your kid is genuinely interested in the mechanics of a con or a heist, there are much better ways to scratch that itch. The Hustle treats the "con" part of the story as an afterthought to the slapstick. We want our kids to see smart characters using their wits, but here, the characters mostly just rely on the fact that the men around them are idiots.
If you want a movie that actually respects the intelligence of its characters and its audience, you'll have to look elsewhere. Even older films that deal with the criminal underworld, like The Untouchables, offer more compelling narratives about stakes and consequences, even if they're much more intense.
Ultimately, The Hustle feels like a waste of 93 minutes. It’s a remake that lacks the charm of the original and a comedy that lacks the timing of a TikTok skit. If you’re looking for something to watch tonight, keep scrolling. Your time is more valuable than this.
