Plastic

Four British university students plot a diamond heist in this thriller allegedly based on a true story. Sam (Ed Speleers) and Fordy (Will Poulter) run an efficient racket cloning credit cards, until their boys (Alfie Allen and Sebastian De Souza) rip off the wrong man and end up £2 million in debt to a gangster. In an unlikely ultimatum, they must deliver in two weeks or they’re for it. Cue a trip to Miami to target the big spenders, including high-end jewellers. It’s a zippy, sometimes entertaining ride with a fun start: think a student version of TV’s ‘Hustle’. But despite likeable turns from the four leads, the characters are simply drawn, especially pouty love interest Frankie (Emma Rigby from ‘Hollyoaks’), who is woefully under-written, -used and -dressed. (Note to filmmakers: casting a woman in a small role as a DCI does not balance things out.) The London scenes are fine but the guys seem far too relaxed in Miami considering death is looming. And we’re given no reason to root for them other than that they’re young and good-looking.