Eenie Meanie is a thrilling action dramedy that is captivating from start to finish. With the film exploring intersections between various genres, it would be easy for it to get lost in the noise, but it manages to deliver a coherent and gripping story that seamlessly flows between comedy, crime, and heist-style action.
Edie, played by Samara Weaving, is getting her life together after growing up in a problematic home, which constantly had criminals leading her down the wrong roads. However, Edie is pulled back in for one last job by her reckless ex-boyfriend. What follows is high-energy action with car chases and heists, all underscored by Edie’s attempts to pull away from her all-consuming past.
Eenie Meanie Plays Into Its Strengths
Eenie Meanie has a pretty simple story at its center. But beyond that simple core, the movie makes some interesting choices and plays out in fun and unexpected ways. This is also emphasized by the film’s blending of genres.
Incredible writing and direction by Shawn Simmons that ensures every beat of the story counts.
The film navigates emotion, including touching and tense moments, with high-octane speed and action to great effect, all while maintaining an air of intrigue about how things will go and if the plans will play out accordingly. Elevating that balance is a perfectly cast Weaving. Her enigmatic performance ensures the film has a core focus to lean on as it moves between situations.
The result is a movie that is complex, but not messy. It’s gripping, high-energy, but not exhausting. It’s a fun viewing experience that takes unexpected twists and turns as it barrels towards its conclusion. And it does all of this thanks to the incredible writing and direction by Shawn Simmons, who ensures every beat of the story counts and lands as intended.
Eenie Meanie Is Here For A Good Time, Not A Long Time
Eenie Meanie achieves a great deal over its 100-minute runtime. Edie has much of her life revealed, and the character is presented as extremely efficient, clear-headed, and likable. While she is pressured into doing some not-so-nice things, she still feels like a character who maintains control and handles herself gracefully.
Eenie Meanie feels like a fresh and exciting take on a familiar storyline.
It might sound challenging to balance out all these ideas in one story, but Simmons’s writing, combined with Weaving’s performance, does it with a fluidity that kept me riveted. It helps that the supporting cast is also brilliant, their characters thoroughly expanding the story. While the film was released to streaming, it could have benefited from a theatrical release.
Regardless, it’s a fresh and exciting take on a familiar storyline, with bouts of tension and energy. It raises the bar for crime thrillers thanks to the incredible cast and performances throughout. Eenie Meanie has something for everyone, with a thoroughly satisfying conclusion that stays with you hours after the credits roll.
