This is a heist film with exciting elements and loads of fun to double the money. It is an adventure where investigations lead to hurdles and misadventures. Be ready for a ride where YouTube subscribers, followers, and social media mayhem fall into the mix. How to Rob a Bank is stellar at showcasing creative control and power among criminals. Written with classy characters who fit the roles of bank robbers very well. A disgruntled detective is part of the story as well. When social media and robbing banks come together, a big, clever rollercoaster ensues.

The characters involved in the cat-and-mouse game are Ryan (Nicholas Hoult) and Vince (Pete Davidson). They have a whole crew of people working on their heist operations using their YouTube channels and bank robbing ventures. The detective who is onto them is Agent West (John C. Reilly). He hires a former criminal to help him, named Reagan (Zoe Kravitz). Ryan and Vince create a trail that goes into dangerous territory. They put police officers and people in compromising places.  Their technological tactics are deadly and grow rapidly with winnings on social media and success taking down banks.

There is a political side to their motives which makes the film enticing. Ryan believes the system is messed up so cheating the system is justified. He pushes boundaries to win big. Agent West follows suit going on the run trying to stop the mayhem with the banks and the YouTube channel before things get even more out of hand. How to Rob a Bank is not perfect, but does well moderating levels of intensity. Each scene where a bank is robbed is like a Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto video game experience. There are flying colors with the YouTube channel and the news stories breaking when they take down banks. 

There is a quote from the film, “These videos are misdirection!” This spoke to me, because it hinted at what was yet to come. The director David Leitch uses promising tactics in How to Rob a Bank. He throws out metaphors and twisted elements that make viewers think one event will happen, but then the opposite occurs. The banks and social media pages blur the lines and lead to a pretty good time in How to Rob a Bank. Yet, the pacing is a little off and Davidson is hard to take seriously as a bank robber. Yes, he has shady looks but does not fit the bill as creepy or tough. At least his moments of irony play well in the film in spite of the lack of structure and a little too much mayhem. Overall, the movie is not quite a hit. Two out of four stars for How to Rob a Bank.