Have you ever gone to a sporting event that you know isn't going to be very good? Let's us the Heat vs. the Sonics as an example. You don't go to this game to see playoff implications or intense every-basket-could-change-a-season basketball. In the preseason, maybe you thought it could be that good, but now you know better. No, you go because you've always enjoyed the game of basketball and just maybe something special will happen. And it does. The game goes to triple-overtime and your team wins on a last-second shot. That is how I describe this movie. Well, maybe not that good, but close enough. When I first heard of this movie I got all excited. I had read the book and thought it was just a great story. Being a gambling man myself, I always enjoy a good Vegas story.

21 is a movie INSPIRED (not based, there is a difference) by the true story of MIT students who took Vegas for millions. They conspired a seemingly foolproof mathematical strategy to counting cards. Reading that book makes you want to play blackjack immediately. The movie, on the other hand, gives me mixed reactions. On one hand, I felt like I was watching some popcorn flick masquerading as a heist film. But sometimes I was watching a movie that had some interesting substance and made me ask myself what I would do in his/her shoes. All in all, there is not much to say about this movie. Some people will love it, some may hate it, and others will semi-watch it in 2 years when it's on TBS while they are busy doing something else. So why did it make so much money? Simple. There just aren't many options right now in theaters. Each week seems to have one interesting film and a bunch of if-I-have-the-time flicks. Leatherheads is the upcoming weekend's must-see.

The most disappointing quality of the movie is easily the missed talents of Aaron Yoo (The Perfect Score). He has the ability to steal every scene he is in, but was pushed into a role, in my opinion, simply so the movie didn't seem too racist. Why racist? Well, there is a complaint running around that 21 may be slightly racist because the original group in real life was mostly all Asian students and this movie portrays them all as the prototypical American. Let's be realistic here, people. I'm not going to say it, but think outside the box as a movie producer instead of trying to brew controversy. This is what I'm saying by the difference between inspired and based when it comes to true stories. Let me also say that Kate Bosworth is hot and does all that is needed of her. Bring sex appeal and give the main character a reason to break his own rules. Keep up the good/underachieving work Kate. But there are two things in 21 that stood out and made it re-watchable.

1) The Superbad touch:
          Something about this movie just really reminded me of Superbad. From the overdone cliche of dork tries to get the hot chick and almost always does to the fat friend of our main character. His name is Josh Gad and he truly stole the movie. He has a future if he can latch on to the right comedies. Please, somebody tell Judd Apatow about this guy so he can play Jonah Hill's brother somewhere. See pictures below for proof. I ached for more scenes with the main character's loser friends because they actually made me laugh. So....thanks for that. Can you tell the two apart?
                                         

2) The twist:
           I genuinely did not expect this movie to have a good twist. This is what I mean by the analogy earlier to the unexpected great ending to a seemingly bad matchup. I just thought 21 would be a cool story and stay away from the Ocean's Eleven plot twist. Nope. In fact, I would say whoever wrote this movie was constantly watching Ocean's 11 for inspiration. Sometimes it tries too hard, but who doesn't like unpredictability in their movies? And who doesn't like the good guys getting even with the bad guy? Unless I'm giving it away here, I'm sure you won't catch on to the real criminal until the end. The twist in 21 took it from just an okay movie to a good movie.

         out of 5