Do you want to see an action comedy about four dim-witted Southerners who pulled off one of the biggest heists in American history, robbing almost $20 million from a Loomis Fargo armored truck? “Napoleon Dynamite” director Jared Hess has the movie for you. It’s called “Masterminds” (formerly known as “Loomis Fargo” a few years ago) and stars a heavyweight comedy cast of Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis as the aforementioned knuckleheads who pull off a crazy theft.
Could we see two films from Hess in 2015? Lionsgate acquired his most recent film, “Don Verdean,” at Sundance earlier this year, but they could hold it for an entire year as Lionsgate is wont to do these days. Here’s the official synopsis:
In this action comedy based on true events, directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite; Nacho Libre), David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) discovers the true meaning of adventure far beyond his wildest dreams. He is an uncomplicated man stuck in a monotonous life. Day in and day out he drives an armored vehicle, transporting millions of other people’s money with no escape in sight. The only glimmer of excitement is his flirtatious work crush Kelly Campbell (Kristen Wiig) who soon lures him into the scheme of a lifetime.
Along with a group of half-brained criminals led by Steve Chambers (Owen Wilson) and an absurdly faulted heist plan, David manages the impossible and makes off with $17 million in cash…only problem is he foolishly hands the money over to this wild group of double crossers and has been set up to take the fall. With the bandits blowing the millions on lavish and ridiculous luxuries, they leave behind a glaring trail of evidence. Now on the lam and in over his head, David must dodge the authorities, evade a hilarious hit man, Mike McKinney (Jason Sudeikis), and try to turn the tables on the ones he trusted most.
Big things were predicted for Hess and he’s never really lived up to “Napoleon Dynamite,” but maybe this is the one? It should be noted that Jody Hill & Danny R. McBride (“Eastbound And Down,” “Observe And Report”) are two of the writers on the film and Lorne Michaels is a producer, so maybe that’s a plus. The downside is there are five writers credited to the screenplay… "Masterminds" opens nationwide on August 7th. Watch the first trailer below and check out the new poster and new photos too.
