Knockaround Guys (2001)

20% of critics liked it
(99 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(38,543 ratings)

A big score goes wrong in a big way for a bunch of aspiring gangsters in this crime comedy. Matty Demaret (Barry Pepper) is the son of a mid-level Brooklyn mob boss, Benny "Chains" Demaret (Dennis Hopper). When Matty was 12 years old, Benny and Uncle Teddy (John Malkovich) decided to see if Matty… More A big score goes wrong in a big way for a bunch of aspiring gangsters in this crime comedy. Matty Demaret (Barry Pepper) is the son of a mid-level Brooklyn mob boss, Benny "Chains" Demaret (Dennis Hopper). When Matty was 12 years old, Benny and Uncle Teddy (John Malkovich) decided to see if Matty had what it took to be in the mob; they gave the boy a gun and ordered him to shoot a longtime enemy of the family. Matty lacked the nerve to do it, and ever since, Benny has been convinced his son is a coward. As an adult, Matty is stuck between a rock and a hard place; he'd like to work as a sports agent, but his family's criminal ties make that all but impossible, and his dad won't give him a chance in the family's operations. Uncle Teddy decides to give Matty a chance to make good by asking him to pick up a payment of $500,000 in Spokane, WA. Matty puts together a crew of three friends, all sons of mob guys, to help him out: muscle bound Taylor (Vin Diesel), ladies' man Chris (Andrew Davoli), and cocaine-addled would-be pilot Johnny (Seth Green). Getting the money goes just fine, but during a refueling stop in Montana, Johnny has to hide the money to keep it from being discovered. It's then promptly stolen by a pair of burnouts. When Matty and his crew discover the money is missing, they head back to Montana, but before long, they find out that the sheriff (Tom Noonan) is onto them, and that he has his own plans for the cash; they also learn that Uncle Teddy has some plans he didn't tell them about. Knockaround Guys marked the directorial debut for the screenwriting team of Brian Koppelman and David Levien. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Brian Koppelman, David Levien
Written By: Brian Koppelman, David Levien
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 11, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Feb 25, 2003
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
This heist flick about young Brooklyn hoods is off the shelf after two years to capitalize on the popularity of Vin Diesel, Seth Green and Barry Pepper. It should have stayed there.
Melinda Ennis, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Perhaps if co-directors David Levien and Brian Koppelman had spent more time devising a coherent vision for the film, we would not have felt as knocked around after watching it.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
We know the plot's a little crazy, but it held my interest from start to finish.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
Will only satisfy those who can't tell the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
A guilty pleasure.
Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle
Lackluster.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
No less stale than the many derivative crime thrillers that flood the direct-to-video market.
Michelle Alexandria, Eclipse Magazine
What sounds like a formula for freakish violence and a torrent of incessant expletives is in fact a stylish mobster film that stands out due to some very inventive casting.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Even the top ensemble case of Knockaround Guys, headed by the ever-remarkable John Malkovich and charismatic Vin Diesel, can't jump the brick wall that the script hits in the last 20 minutes.
Mark Halverson, Sacramento News & Review
Diesel is excellent as a compassionate pre-XXX tough guy (the film has been on the shelf for nearly two years).
Todd Gilchrist, IGN Movies
Knockaround Guys just doesn't deserve to get made, either literally or figuratively, and isn't worth the time needed to discover that this particular up-and-comer is yesterday's news.
Damon Wise, Empire Magazine
Borrowing heavily from leftfield genre spin-offs like True Romance, it's no wonder this misfire was on the shelves for so long.
Todd Gilchrist, FilmStew.com
The dialogue is almost a bit too conscious of its own wittiness and street-tough colloquialisms.
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
Putting the faces of hot young stars on the same old parts doesn't make the movie any fresher.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
O roteiro é interessante, mas se perde no final, com o tiroteio obrigatório.
Nick Rogers, State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)
When the movie mixes the cornpone and the Cosa Nostra, it finds a nice rhythm.
Susan Tavernetti, Palo Alto Weekly
Guns get drawn. Bullets fly. Blood spills. You've seen it all before.
Paul Byrnes, Sydney Morning Herald
Real gangsters often love gangster films, but it's a safe bet that Knockaround Guys won't be on their all-time hit list.
Frank Ochieng, Movie Eye
It may not be instantly forgettable, but it comes close.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
It's mildly interesting to ponder the peculiar American style of justice that plays out here, but it's so muddled and derivative that few will bother thinking it all through.

Read all 20 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Manu G

Everywhere they go, they're sure to be a hit. Good movie. It's no Goodfellas, but this watchable, well-crafted little mob story is easy to take, and goes a long way on its appealing cast and dark, profane sense of humor. Vin Diesel kicked ass, don't mess with him. Nice… More
Everywhere they go, they're sure to be a hit. Good movie. It's no Goodfellas, but this watchable, well-crafted little mob story is easy to take, and goes a long way on its appealing cast and dark, profane sense of humor. Vin Diesel kicked ass, don't mess with him. Nice good story which entertained me late at night. The acting was decent, nothing bad to say about this movie. Popcorn movie to watch with your guy friend's. The four sons (Diesel, Green, Pepper, Davoli) of major Brooklyn mobsters have to team up to retrieve a bag of cash in a small Montana town ruled by a corrupt sheriff. Specifically, the story gets started when Matt Demaret (Pepper) goes on a job to deliver the money for his mob father (Hopper) on the advice of his uncle (Malkovich). Things don't go as planned though...
♥˩ƳИИ &

Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, John Malkovich, Dennis Hopper, Seth Green, Dov Tiefenbach The film follows four sons of well-known Brooklyn-based mobsters and their desperate fight to retrieve a bag of cash in a small Montana town ruled by a corrupt sheriff. As they unite to find the… More
Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, John Malkovich, Dennis Hopper, Seth Green, Dov Tiefenbach The film follows four sons of well-known Brooklyn-based mobsters and their desperate fight to retrieve a bag of cash in a small Montana town ruled by a corrupt sheriff. As they unite to find the money, they come face-to-face with the bloodshed and betrayal that is their birthright. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I thought it had a great cast. Thought the movie was good. Little slow to begin with but got better as it went. Good little mob story.
Al S

A lean, mean, funny and stylish tough guy thriller. It packs major star power and cold blopded gunplay. A hard-hitting, fast paced and enjoyable film. Thrilling, pulse-pounding and exceptional. Packs lots of action and humor. Dennis Hopper, John Malkovich, Barry Pepper, Andrew Davoli,… More
A lean, mean, funny and stylish tough guy thriller. It packs major star power and cold blopded gunplay. A hard-hitting, fast paced and enjoyable film. Thrilling, pulse-pounding and exceptional. Packs lots of action and humor. Dennis Hopper, John Malkovich, Barry Pepper, Andrew Davoli, Seth Green and Vin Diesel give great and sensational performances.
Tim S

Did John Malkovich owe these guys some money or something?
Curtis L

I tend to like seth green. This movie had its moments, but I hate how Vin Diesel saves the day after we think he's dead.
Jason S

The cast of this flick did a great job and I thought the story was good enough to keep you hooked until the end.
Christopher H

Great cast, interesting story, but there is a major essence missing in this film. If Guy Ritchie would have directed the film, that essence would probably have existed. Instead, the entire film comes off formulaic and soulless despite the acting prowess afoot.
Nicolas K

Has some funny moments...
Lee K

awesome flick and one of my faves starring vin diesel. Definate guy flick a definate must see
Leo L

Fantastic!
Chosen 7

Good film.