Eenie Meanie is a high-octane thrill ride that will take you from the edge of your seat in anticipation, to laughing hysterically. Shawn Simmons expertly weaves the intricacies of an action thriller with a heist movie, featuring dynamic characters that leave you cheering for multiple sides.
The trailer for Eenie Meanie seemed relatively straightforward — a woman with a sketchy past is pressured back into a world she once left behind, with some fast driving and action sprinkled in. I was presently surprised to see that this film offered lots of laughs with an eclectic mix of dynamic characters. It also explored the depths of each character’s lives in a way that left me somewhat sympathetic to the bad guys. From fast-paced action to heartfelt drama, this film packs a lot into a short runtime, and still entertaining us the entire way through.
Writer/Director Shawn Simmons makes his directorial debut with this script produced by 20th Century Studios. With TV writing credits including School of Rock and Wayne, he has proven an adept ability to write unique and oftentimes wildly eccentric characters in a believably cohesive fashion. We open with 14-year-old Edie (Elle Graham) finding herself torn between doing what she’s knows is right and her father’s (Steve Zahn) insistence that she break the law by evading police via getaway car in an attempt to avoid arrest. We then pick up with adult Edie/Eenie Meanie (Samara Weaving) 14 years later, as she’s trying to get her life on track by taking college classes. However, she unexpectedly finds out she’s three-and-a-half months pregnant after a bank heist at her job.
As the movie progresses, we learn through several characters that from 14 through her early 20s, she engaged in a life of crime by acting as a getaway driver for notorious crime lord Nico (Andy Garcia). Her longtime ex-boyfriend John (Karl Glusman) saved her at age 15 from being sold via child trafficking by her father, and the couple lived as a Bonnie and Clyde-esque crime spree duo until seven months prior. This codependent relationship proves to be nothing but trouble for Edie, as John now owes Nico three million dollars for his role in the death of a card counter employed by the crime lord.
After Edie and John agree to participate in stealing (or shall I say “boosting”) a Dodge Charger and three million dollars in prize money from a poker tournament as repayment, we see Edie struggle between her resurfacing fondness for John and establishing boundaries for this heist, all while keeping her pregnancy a secret. At this moment, we transition from action film into heist thriller. Edie and John must work with a few of Nico’s associates in order to be successful.
As a fan of heist movies, I would’ve loved to see more trial and error go into the experimentation phase of planning the heist. Each step of the planning process seemed a bit too easy and had a quick solution. For instance, when the already-highlighted casino floor blueprint is laid out on a table, Edie instantly solves the issue of how to drive the car out from the main floor. When compared to other big heist movies, it felt like this would’ve been a great opportunity to explore more intricate planning details. A covert car switch, a trap door, anything more complex would’ve added to the thrill of this portion of the film.
Various supporting characters breathe refreshing life into the heavy burdens carried by Edie. Babygirl (Kyanna Simone) is the grounded and witty best friend who keeps Edie in check. Simone steals every scene as Babygirl, offering up both comedic chops and realness with each scene she’s in. Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch continues to develop his acting chops as Perm Walters, the narcissistic and flashy nemesis to Edie and John.
Mike O’Malley and Andy Garcia give us a delightful improv showcase by lighting up every scene together with effortlessly funny straight face dialogue. What is quite evident both onscreen and during the post-screening Q&A is the diversity of the cast. While diversity can often come across as either forced or an afterthought, it didn’t seem as though this was a forced decision by Simmons and the casting department. The majority of the supporting characters are actors of color, and each serving an important purpose to the story that does not rely on race or ethnicity. The characters are allowed to just be.
During the Q&A after the screening, the cast had much praise for Simmons’ on-set environment. Garcia enjoyed Simmons’ openness in allowing them to improvise and find what worked in each scene. Simone and Weaving expressed how they built a genuine friendship through this process. Glusman and Simmons reminisced over his pre-audition meeting, where Simmons was enamored by the actor’s innately optimistic personality, a pivotal trait that comes into play for his character in the film.
Overall, this film makes for an engaging watch, and it’s clear that the cast and crew had an enjoyable time making it. Simmons pulls no punches with the action, violence, and thrills, which create a viewing experience that leaves you excitedly uncertain about what’s coming next, all while jostling your ability to discern who you can and cannot trust.
Eenie Meanie will be available to stream on Hulu on Friday, August 22.
