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Indian Express

Deep Cover movie review: Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom starrer is funny and self-aware when it's not

There's something inherently ridiculous about the idea of using improv actors to infiltrate a London crime syndicate. In theory, it sounds like the fever dream of a writer who's watched MacGruber, Johnny English, and an old rerun of Whose Line Is It Anyway? back-to-back. But then again, that's the exact tightrope Deep Cover chooses to walk – with the wobbly confidence of a performer mid-scene, unsure whether to commit to the bit or bail with a quick 'yes, and…'. What results is a film that's a lot more likeable and amusing than it probably has any right to be. And when it's not funny? Well, at least it knows it. Bryce Dallas Howard leads the operation as Kat, an improv instructor who hasn't exactly made peace with her stalled career. She's roped into a MI5-adjacent operation by a grim-faced but quietly bemused Sean Bean, who plays Detective Sergeant Billings with the kind of weariness that suggests he's seen one too many undercover ops go sideways. His brilliant idea? Use Kat and her two least promising students – Marlon (Orlando Bloom) and Hugh (Nick Mohammed) – as decoys in a sting operation. To the film's credit, it doesn't pretend this idea makes any real-world sense. In fact, the characters are baffled too. But the movie's charm lies in how earnestly it sells this silliness. There's a commitment to chaos, and it works more often than it doesn't. As Marlon, Bloom sheds the seriousness that has often weighed down his career (and a fair share of chainmail) and steps into pure comedic territory. He's genuinely funny – sometimes in a self-deprecating way, other times with the energy of a guy who's finally found a role that doesn't require him to pretend to be an elf, a prince, or a vaguely rebellious heartthrob. Nick Mohammed, meanwhile, isn't reinventing the wheel. His Hugh feels like a gentle cousin to Nate from Ted Lasso – nervy, eager, prone to overthinking everything, and occasionally stumbling into brilliance. It's familiar, but it works. If anything, Hugh might be the film's emotional compass, even when the plot doesn't really ask for one. Even Sean Bean gets to crack a few smiles before, inevitably, looking like he's either going to die or arrest someone. (No spoilers, but if you're playing the Sean Bean Death Bingo, don't cash in too early.) The narrative itself is serviceable – a stitched-together crime plot that exists mostly as a backdrop for the gags and character moments. There are double-crosses, mistaken identities, and a few scenes of genuine tension. But don't go expecting The Departed. The stakes feel intentionally low – a strength and a weakness. On one hand, it makes the film breezy and easy to digest. On the other, there's a certain aimlessness that creeps in during the second act. The movie is funny. And when it's not funny, it's at least self-aware. There's something refreshing about a film that doesn't try too hard to be clever. It knows its limits, doesn't overreach, and winks at the audience just enough. But occasionally, you do wish it pushed past the wink – into full-blown satire or surprise – but its restraint is part of its charm. There's also a whiff of Delhi Belly here – particularly in how regular, slightly idiotic people get swept into high-stakes criminal drama and somehow bluff their way through. The film doesn't indulge in toilet humour, but it shares that anarchic DNA. That same sense of 'Wait, how are they still alive?' runs through much of the story. Deep Cover isn't as sharp as The Nice Guys, or as madcap as The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. But it's the kind of movie you see with zero expectations, and find yourself laughing 15 minutes in. Deep Cover Deep Cover Cast – Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed, Paddy Considine, Ian McShane, Sean Bean Deep Cover Director – Tom Kingsley Deep Cover Rating – 3/5