In yet another tale on the opioid crisis, Netflix’s crime drama film with a runtime of 124 minutes stars Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Andy Garcia, Catherine O’Hara and others. Based on Evan Hughes’ book of the same name, the movie has been directed by David Yates, who adapts Well Tower’s screenplay for the screen.
The American film introduces us to Blunt’s character Liza Drake as a broke but ambitious single mother juggling with her starkly unsuccessful life and her desperation to climb out of its vicious cycle in order to be able to provide better for her daughter. On the other hand, we have Evans playing Pete Brenner, a drug representative from the failing pharma startup Zanna Therapeutics, equally distressed about taking off the ground.
Pain Hustlers takes a rather stale route to delve into the familiar story that has already been foretold several times through titles like "Dopesick" and "Painkiller". Commencing with a black-and-white visual presenting the characters at the centre of an interview series captured in the mockumentary style, the movie announces the massive failure that awaits these people beforehand.
In that way, it non-fictionally addresses the factual truth that is already known to us all. However, the following storyline that shapes its chapters eventually is fictionally dramatised. Moreover, it doesn’t even cross the line or dare to speak defiantly against the corrupt unravelling within the system that ultimately cost lives.
Both Emily Blunt and Chris Evans settle into the shoes of their characters well. Blunt is especially easy to like with her portrayal of the rags-to-riches sales representative out to prove herself and her worth. However, her affectionate way of putting on her character’s skin can’t flourish far ahead owing to the lacking script that couldn’t be duller.
It’s safe to claim that both Emily and Chris deserved a better movie together. Even though it feels great to see them share the screen, the output is so lacklustre that you just can’t root for this project.
What particularly shakes you off about this movie is that it's not clear about the path the lacking story wants to take. It initially jumps into the mockumentary tactic, making you believe that it’s going to jump into a dark comedy of sorts, but it doesn’t. And though billed as a “crime drama” film, it doesn’t build up a gritty narrative either.
The Netflix film doesn’t dive deep into exploring its gnarly subjects - the pill pushers heading this operation or the patients falling down to this greedy enterprise. While the movie adds a touch of humanity through Blunt’s character, the greyness of the overall shadiness is never explored.
Thankfully, the film isn’t too overstretched, and can stay back as a light watch with a great cast, but its non-challenging approach just goes on to show that the director was probably not in the mood for swimming towards a commitment to making a bold and layered picture.