"The Hurricane Heist" (PG-13, 1:43) is an crime action thriller. Now, just to be clear, it does not involve someone trying to steal a hurricane. As silly as that last statement sounds, the actual premise is almost as ridiculous... but that doesn't mean it's not fun to watch. Just don't take it too seriously. This movie is fun similar to how the "Skarknado" movies are fun. It's not quite as over-the-top... but it comes close.
Unlike most heist movies, this one shows nothing about the planning of the caper, but rather shows it unfold as it happens, with no indication of what's coming next. A group of criminals (which includes multiple inside men - and women) is determined to rob a U.S. Treasury facility in Mississippi, allowing an incoming hurricane to run interference for them. The plot conceit that their plan (which was set into motion weeks earlier) was dependent on a hurricane coming ashore at Gulfport on cue is one reason this movie is ridiculous... but it does set up some good drama, exciting action and effective visuals.
The character who seems most interested in halting the heist is a woman named Casey (Maggie Grace), who is the Treasury agent on the scene. She joins forces with Will (Tony Kebbell), a meteorologist who is driving through the hurricane zone in his government-issued stormproof vehicle. Will seems to be the only one involved who knows exactly how bad this hurricane is going to get - and the only one who cares about the people who come to be held hostage in that treasury facility - when his brother (Ryan Kwanten) becomes one of them after he's called in to repair the main building's back-up generator.
"The Hurricane Heist" is a semi-good idea for a movie... which quickly blows any shot at realism. The backdrop of the job being pulled off under cover of a major storm does make for an original premise, but any shred of believability quickly flies out the window. When a hurricane cloud takes the form of a skull to mock two young boys after the storm kills their father, and an IT professional shows up for work at the treasury facility dressed as if she's going to a cocktail party and a string of incredible coincidences gets so many disparate people involved in the story, it was impossible to take this movie seriously... but that may be the point. As the plot ramps up, I felt free to revel in the ridiculousness. This film works as a heist film, an action movie and a disaster flick... if you can get past the inherent, pervasive silliness. "B-"
