Armored: Going Rogue

Armored provides a quick ride through a straightforward story.  The characters are introduced, the plot thickens, simmers, and then is carried out exactly how one would expect from the trailer. Exactly. How. One. Would. Expect.

Our hero Ty (Columbus Short) is a new addition to an armored truck company whose members behave like frat bros. Other guards include familiar faces like Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno, Skeet Ulrich and Matt Dillon, aka The Godfather. Really, he is Ty’s godfather. We quickly learn that Ty has a troubled lot in life: he is an Iraq vet and has custody of his younger brother after both of their parents (inexplicably) die. Times are tough, and Dillon is trying to get Ty set up with this job so he can get his life back on track.

Well he sure picks a questionable track for this kid, who is supposed to be like a son to him. Dillon makes Ty an offer he (assumes) can’t refuse, but is so ridiculous and lacking in foresight that Ty and his moral compass walk away…for a minute. With financial and family pressures building, Ty agrees to go in on a plan with his comrades to steal $42 million from the armored truck company and make it seem like an outside heist, when really the team of guards gets all the spoils. I mean, what could go wrong? Well, exactly what you might think.

Ty’s single condition is that no one gets hurt in this job that has less planning than an episode of The Wendy Williams Show.  Then wouldn’t you know it, something goes awry and Ty wants to jump ship. The rest of the gang quickly turns on him once he bunkers down in the armored truck (with the money) and refuses to move. The rest of the guards, especially The Godfather, motives are nonexistent or very unclear aside from wanting obscene amounts of dollar dollar bills. I found myself asking throughout this robbery, don’t they realize they are screwed? Especially when a cop shows up? And they shoot him? Don’t worry it’s all in the preview, no spoilers here.

And that is basically what we have here: a super extended movie trailed for a second-string heist movie. There are no twists or turns and the serious lack of addressing any character’s motives for actually pulling this job, aside from Ty’s, is disturbing. It is clear that the jig is up for most of these characters early on, and you have to wonder why they continue to dig themselves into a hole that is starting to look more and more like a grave. But during their questionable decisions, we do get to see some pretty clever handiwork from Ty while he tries to do the right thing and get out alive. His MacGyver moments provide for some cool filming and a slightly elevated heart rate. The gritty setting, tough talk, guns, money and high levels of testosterone make for a straightforward action movie. Just don’t expect any revolutionary or ah-ha moments during this short run.