‘The Instigators’ Review: Matt Damon & Casey Affleck Star as Bungling Crooks in this Entertaining Crime Caper

The Instigators, featuring a slightly reimagined Damon/Affleck partnership, is a prime example of a mid-budget film that, unfortunately, often receives only a limited theatrical release, if any, in today’s cinematic landscape. Such films can easily get lost in the vast sea of streaming content. However, this one stands out as a fun summer watch. It blends action, comedy, and crime into pure entertainment from start to finish. While not meant to be taken seriously, it still outshines the endless stream of formulaic action flicks churned out by Netflix.

The Instigators, follows Rory, a mild-mannered ex-marine played by Matt Damon, who is pushed into a life of crime after falling on hard times. His target? A corrupt mayor. Set in Boston, the film centers on a hapless gang that can’t seem to get anything right, becoming entangled in a botched heist that spirals out of control. Casey Affleck’s character, Cobby, is a loud and reckless failed criminal who teams up with Rory. Rory, who is struggling to support his ex-wife and son, is embarking on his first criminal venture, alongside Cobby, who has just been released from prison.

In a sharp contrast to the suave elegance of Ocean’s Eleven, another film in Damon’s repertoire, The Instigators has him portraying a character drenched in bungling incompetence he’s driven by the need to pay off a mountain of child-support debt. His desperation lands him in a reckless smash-and-grab robbery scheme—a plan to rip off the victory party of the incumbent mayor (played by Ron Perlman) on election night.

The heist is orchestrated by low-life aspiring crime boss Mr. Besegai (Michael Stuhlbarg) and his associate Richie DeChico (Alfred Molina), who uses a bakery as a front for their shady dealings. With no better options, they resort to recruiting Rory and Cobby, scraping the bottom of the barrel for their desperate scheme.

As the heist falls apart, Rory and Cobby are left to improvise their way through a chaotic mess. Their blunder triggers a citywide chase involving police, mobsters, henchmen, and various other pursuers. In a desperate move, they enlist the help of Rory’s therapist, played by Hong Chau, to aid in their escape.

Though it might not break new ground, it’s an enjoyable crime caper with a fantastic cast that makes for a fun watch.

Directed by Doug Liman, who’s been taking a more laid-back approach lately with projects like Road House, The Instigators moves away from the serious thrillers he did with Matt Damon, like The Bourne Identity. The film doesn’t always hit the right notes and sometimes feels off-tone, but the script by Affleck and Chuck MacLean is sharp and full of humor.

The real standout in The Instigators is its stellar cast. Damon and Affleck make a fantastic, bumbling duo that’s impossible not to root for. Michael Stuhlbarg and Alfred Molina are excellent as equally inept crime bosses. Hong Chau is a standout as Damon’s therapist, convincingly torn between professional ethics and helping her patient through the chaos of his wild scheme. Ving Rhames, as a world-weary cop, adds depth to his otherwise one-dimensional character. Paul Walter Hauser and rapper Jack Harlow also add some comic relief as hapless crooks. Ron Perlman hams it up as the corrupt mayor and Toby Jones as the shifty lawyer/fixer truly steals every scene he’s in.

The Instigators is a dialogue-driven film with plenty of bickering between Rory and Cobby, making for a lively watch. While the action isn’t constant, it comes in exciting bursts that keep things interesting. Though it might not break new ground, it’s an enjoyable crime caper with a fantastic cast that makes for a fun watch.

The Instigators is now streaming on Apple TV+

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