"The Lookout"

I am continuing my trend of reviewing movies starring Isla Fisher with a review of “The Lookout.” “The Lookout” is a film about Chris, a former high school hockey star who became mentally handicapped in a car accident. Chris lives a modest life working as a bank’s janitor at night. The custodial work doesn’t pay enough to live on so Chris’s wealthy father pays his rent and deposits, basically, allowance in his bank account to pay for everyday expenses. One night, in a bar, Chris meets Gary, a suspicious character who convinces Chris that he deserves more than to live off of his father’s pity and that he can gain a better life through money. Chris does not realize it at first, but Gary intends to use Chris to rob a bank.

I won’t spend much time discussing the acting or direction except to say that it’s all very good, save Fisher’s character (for the second movie in a row). Fisher plays a sweet ex-stripper who seduces Chris into befriending Gary. I couldn’t decide if she knew that she was luring him into a trap or if her infatuation was genuine. I don’t know if her two ambiguous performances (“The Lookout” and “Hot Rod”) are her own fault or just the result of screenplays unwilling to develop her characters. If it weren’t for “Wedding Crashers” I would be tempted to say that she can’t act. But perhaps she would appear more natural in a role using her own Australian accent not, I don’t know, someone from Kansas. She does what she needs to, though, and does not hamper “The Lookout’s” electricity.

The most intriguing thing about the Lookout was how it set a trap for me, the viewer. The film lured me into the same mindset that I expect Chris had about his own life after the accident. The accident was caused by Chris driving with the headlights off and it resulted in two of his friends dying and his girlfriend not talking to him after she survived the crash as well. Chris lives with the guilt of the accident along with his handicap and struggles to find a purpose to persevere through life.

Trying not to spoil much, towards the end of the movie, Chris’s lack of discretion causes another tragedy. I expected the movie to end with Chris wallowing in the guilt of not having sense to do the right thing for the second time, but that it not what I got. Chris realized that he had an opportunity to do some good, even if it wouldn't fix the situation, and he goes out to do it. Even with all the tragedy the film manages to end on an optimistic note. There is a palpable sense of hope that no matter how you screw up, or how life screws you up, there is always something to live for. It really reminded me of God’s forgiveness: that no matter what awful thing you do, you are still loved and can still make a difference in the world. No matter how poorly you think of yourself, something so much greater still sees you for what you really are: strong, capable, beautiful, lovely.