The Ladykillers   

Professor G.H. Dorr: Tom Hanks

Marva Munson: Irma P. Hall

Gawain MacSam: Marlon Wayans

Garth Pancake: J.K. Simmons

The General: Tzi Ma

Lump Hudson: Ryan Hurst 

Written and Directed by 

Joel & Ethan Coen

Based on the original movie written by William Rose

The Ladykillers is a dark comedy/caper flick from the Coen brothers starring Tom Hanks, which is a remake of a 1955 film.  Hanks plays Goldthwaite Higginson Dorr III (yes, that is his actual name), the leader of a ring of characters he has called on to help him rob a casino boat.  Their cover is that of a group of musicians that practice in the root cellar of Marva Munson (Irma P. Hall).  The house is in a prime location because it enables them to tunnel from the cellar to the boat's vault, which is located underground. 

At the beginning of the movie, we are treated to vignettes of each person involved in the project.  Their situations are as ridiculous and unfunny as their names.  We are also treated to a brief synopsis of Mrs. Munson.  She is a churchgoing widow with a real disdain for the "hippity-hop" music and culture. Therefore, it is no surprise that she is so welcoming of Dorr and his crew practicing their "church music" under her house.

The movie takes forever to get going, and, in essence, it never really does.  We see the crime played out, the inner squabbles of the ragtag group, and doses of gospel music as Marva goes to church.  It picks up a little steam once Marva finds out what has been going on, but by then it is too late.  We have already lost interest, thanks in no small part to Dorr's overblown speeches that are littered throughout the film.

Hanks tries his best as Professor Dorr, complete with facial tics, strange mannerisms, and a slow, sophisticated accent.  However, he can't overcome the material he has been given, and Dorr just comes off as an idiosyncratic bore with nothing redeeming or the least bit interesting about him.  The cast around him doesn't fare too much better as they are painted by the Coen's with broad strokes in a feeble effort to make them colorful. 

There are a few moments in The Ladykillers that will have you laughing, but, overall, the comic timing of the film is off.  Most notably in a scene right near the end involving Lump (Ryan Hurst) and Dorr.  Unfortunately, this proves to be the film's biggest downfall.  Every moment that shows promise is thwarted by the sheer garishness of Dorr and the situation, and the film devolves into a melange of hackneyed plot devices with absolutely no substance.