Back in the 2000s or early 2010s, a movie like Eenie Meanie would have slipped into cinemas as a mid-budget summer release.
It has all the trappings of that era, fast-paced car chases, stylized shootouts, a collection of familiar supporting actors, and impossibly attractive leads trying to outwit one another. But times have changed. Without an A-list name attached, this kind of glossy action caper would have struggled at the box office then, and in today’s market it makes far more sense as a streaming debut. Disney clearly recognized that and sent the film straight to Hulu and Disney+.
With a reported $50 million budget, Eenie Meanie lands above many recent mid-tier theatrical releases, but the result is a film that feels both dated and hollow. It positions itself as a slick comedy-thriller with shades of Quentin Tarantino, yet never finds its own voice. The movie marks the feature directorial debut of Shawn Simmons, best known for creating the short-lived action series Wayne and co-creating The Continental, the John Wick spin-off that also failed to leave much of an impression. Backed by Deadpool scribes Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the project tries to blend irreverent humor with explosive action, though the mix is shaky at best.
At the center is Samara Weaving as Edie, nicknamed Eenie Meanie, a gifted getaway driver raised in a life of crime but now determined to live straight. Her attempt to stay clean is disrupted when her reckless ex-boyfriend, played by Karl Glusman, drags her back into the orbit of her old boss (Andy Garcia). Predictably, she is soon caught up in a high-stakes heist where danger and chaos lurk behind every corner.
The narrative relies on the well-worn “one last job” trope, peopled with eccentric side characters played briefly by Randall Park, Steve Zahn, Marshawn Lynch, and Jermaine Fowler. Unfortunately, most of them are written more as sketches than characters, and the dialogue often mistakes profanity for actual wit. Weaving, a proven genre performer in films like Ready or Not and Scream VI, struggles here with an uneven Midwestern accent and a lead role that doesn’t quite play to her strengths. Glusman fares better, leaning into his character’s hapless energy, though the central relationship lacks the weight to drive the story forward.
Where Eenie Meanie comes alive is in its action sequences. Simmons shows a clear talent for staging kinetic car chases, giving the film moments of genuine momentum. The finale even attempts a bold twist, though it ultimately slips into sentimentality that feels unearned. For all its energy, the film remains a curious blend of ambition and emptiness, a streaming-era spectacle that never becomes more than passable entertainment.
Eenie Meanie has flashes of excitement and occasional surprises, but overall it’s a middling comedy-thriller that coasts on style rather than substance. Fans of Samara Weaving or disposable streaming action may find just enough to enjoy, but for most, it will feel like another forgettable pit stop in the crowded world of car-centric crime capers.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
