Ian Niles follows up his amusing debut as both writer and director Lie Hard with the off-beat comedy Con Job, in which he directs, stars, and co-wrote with Guy Harry. Chris (Niles) is a man who is convinced that he’s a good guy who deserves a break in life. His best friend, Angus (Menuhin Hart), and Angus’s estranged brother, Tim (Dean Ewards), come over to Chris’s place to celebrate his upcoming nuptials. At least, that’s what Chris and Angus tell Tim. The reality is that they are going to con Tim into signing over his childhood home to Angus so it can be sold off to some greedy land developers.
Unfortunately, this plan goes pear-shaped when the corrupt notary they hired to sign off on the required documents, Jordan (Aaron Berg), shows up hours early. He’s a manic mess, an apparent reaction to the goat hemin supplement he ingests before and after working out. While Tim eventually passes out due to jetlag, Aaron dies in the bathroom. Now, Chris and Angus must hurriedly devise a new plan before Tim wakes and realizes the truth of what they are up to.
“…going to con Tim into signing over his childhood home to Angus so it can be sold off to some greedy land developers.”
Lie Hard was a silly affair in which the jokes were constant and, more often than not, over the top. Con Job retains that goofy atmosphere but is more grounded, making it feel like there’s more at stake. Of course, obstacles continually come at our hapless, dimwitted heroes, including a very hot but thieving food delivery driver played by Julia Claire Schweitzer. It might sound like a digression, but how Chris and Angus handle this scenario is a microcosm of how they are dealing with the big-picture problem they are in. It’s also hilarious. The introduction of Jeff/Evil Jeff (T.L. Flint) brings the over-the-top angle but in a truly funny way that fits the story at hand.
Much like in Lie Hard, Niles proves he’s a gifted comedian here and does not mind being the butt of the joke. His chemistry with Hart is excellent, and the duo feels like real friends in a bad way. Berg sells his parts manic nature from his introduction. Edwards is sweet and likable, allowing the audience to revel in the dumb situations and stupider solutions the would-be con artists get into. Crystal Ward plays the crucial but small role of Officer Mitchell and is excellent. She’s got the most serious role but expertly makes everything feel grounded and realistic.
While Lie Hard may have more laughs per minute, Con Job is a superior film in every aspect. The stakes are higher, the characters are more than just caricatures, and the pacing is impeccable. The cast, led by Niles, understands their roles perfectly, delivering a film that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. If Niles and his team continue to produce films of this caliber, they are destined for legendary status in the film industry.
"…keeps the audience engaged from start to finish."
