A comic book series is the core for this dreary little film as written by Ollie Masters, Ming Doyle and director Andrea Berloff. 'Comic book' is a misnomer as this is one of the most darkly violent, crude, and degrading films to be released.
The story - in poorly strung together blocks of editing - is as follows: Hell's Kitchen, circa 1978: three women are married to members of the Irish mob: Kathy Brennan (Melissa McCarthy) and her husband, Jimmy (Brian d'Arcy James), have two kids. Jimmy is kind and wants to leave the mob. Ruby O'Carroll (Tiffany Haddish) is married to Kevin (James Badge Dale), who's the son of Helen (Margo Martindale) and heir to the mob empire. Claire Walsh (Elisabeth Moss) is married to Rob (Jeremy Bobb), who is abusive towards her. One night while robbing a convenience store, FBI Agents Silvers (Common) and Martinez (EJ Bonilla), who have been trailing them, bust them, and the three men are sentenced to three years in prison. The wives continue to operate their husbands' rackets after they're locked up and Claire has a change of personality when she pairs with Gabriel O'Malley (Domhnall Gleason).
The language is foul, the situations of the various couples' interaction are very dark, and the transition of abused women to abusing female racketeers is gruesome. But then that seems to be the point of the film - painting Hell's Kitchen as a pit of crime. Some strong performances despite the poor script and choppy editing. Definitely not for youngsters!
The story - in poorly strung together blocks of editing - is as follows: Hell's Kitchen, circa 1978: three women are married to members of the Irish mob: Kathy Brennan (Melissa McCarthy) and her husband, Jimmy (Brian d'Arcy James), have two kids. Jimmy is kind and wants to leave the mob. Ruby O'Carroll (Tiffany Haddish) is married to Kevin (James Badge Dale), who's the son of Helen (Margo Martindale) and heir to the mob empire. Claire Walsh (Elisabeth Moss) is married to Rob (Jeremy Bobb), who is abusive towards her. One night while robbing a convenience store, FBI Agents Silvers (Common) and Martinez (EJ Bonilla), who have been trailing them, bust them, and the three men are sentenced to three years in prison. The wives continue to operate their husbands' rackets after they're locked up and Claire has a change of personality when she pairs with Gabriel O'Malley (Domhnall Gleason).
The language is foul, the situations of the various couples' interaction are very dark, and the transition of abused women to abusing female racketeers is gruesome. But then that seems to be the point of the film - painting Hell's Kitchen as a pit of crime. Some strong performances despite the poor script and choppy editing. Definitely not for youngsters!