Lift review: "A fun if by-the-numbers Netflix heist movie"

Netflix’s most popular movie, the A-lister-loaded Red Notice, is a crime caper revolving around art theft and Interpol. Lift, the streamer’s latest original offering is… also a starry heist movie about art and Interpol. But while it doesn't do much to stand out from the platform's ever-growing, own-brand programming, it’s a lively comedy-thriller that delivers on laughs.

Directed by F. Gary Gray (Fast & Furious 8), this globe-trotter sets out its stall with a high-tech heist in Venice. In a modern twist on genre formula, our crew, led by Kevin Hart's laid-back Cyrus, are stealing an NFT; dedicated Interpol agent Abby (Loki's Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is out to stop them.

The main plot kicks in via Abby's boss Huxley (Sam Worthington, great as a loathsome rival to Mbatha-Raw), who convinces her to work with Cyrus and co. to thwart a truly nasty criminal who has a disastrous scheme in motion. 

Heisters Billy Magnussen and Vincent D'Onofrio are laugh-out-loud scene-stealers, while Hart gives a surprisingly low-key performance; one that allows his castmates to shine, but leaves him fading into the background at times, despite top billing. His and Mbatha-Raw's romantic chemistry isn't too persuasive, though the duo's shared backstory adds some intriguing flavour to proceedings. 

At a tight 100 minutes, the film doesn't overstay its welcome, though it loses momentum around the midpoint before building to a nonsensical yet pleasingly dramatic climax. In all, Lift is a fairly by-the-numbers Netflix original, but there are worse ways to spend an evening in front of the TV.

Lift hits Netflix on January 12. You can fill out your watchlist with our guide to the best Netflix movies streaming now.