EMPIRE STATE (2013) ** ½

Chris (Liam Hemsworth) wants to be a cop so he can support his family, but he just isn’t cut out for it.  Instead, he gets a job as a security guard for an armored car company.  He quickly realizes that the company doesn’t give a shit about anything.  The security is lax, the cameras are broken, and the entry code is 1-2-3-4.  After Chris’ partner (Michael Rispoli) is killed during a hold-up, the company refuses to pay his widow a proper settlement.   So Chris decides to steal a bunch of money and give her the bulk of it.  Unfortunately, he blabs about it to his hotshot friend (Michael Angarano from Sky High) who tells some local thugs just how easy it is to steal from the place, and they pressure Chris into planning another heist.  Naturally, the robbery doesn’t go as planned, and a badass cop (The Rock) starts needling Chris to find the missing loot.

Empire State starts off with great promise, but it peters out about halfway through.  The film is at its best when it focuses on the relationship between Hemsworth and Angarano.  You get a definite Mean Streets vibe from their characters.  Angarano is particularly great as the slimy loudmouth best friend and Hemsworth does a good job as the straight arrow whose one lapse in judgment leads to an unending shit storm.

Unfortunately, once he robs the place, there’s really nothing left for his character to do.  Most of the time, he stands idly by, sulking as his friend, the Greek mob, and some Colombian drug dealers worm their way into the mix, all trying to get a cut of the money.  It’s here where the picture starts to get muddled.  I think director Dito (Fighting) Montiel was going for a slow burn type of deal, but the finale suffers from a so-so shootout and a couple of obvious plot twists.

At least the picture is anchored by a great supporting turn by The Rock.  He’s so good that you’ll wish his role was bigger.  He exudes attitude and swagger as the ball-breaking cop on the case.  Whether he’s playing mind games with Hemsworth or talking shit to gangsters, the film really comes alive whenever he’s on screen.  Even when the movie is going south, The Rock keeps you watching.