21 **½

Australian director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Win A Date With Tad Hamilton) helmed this adventure/drama which stars Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, and Kevin Spacey. Rated PG-13 for some violence and sexual content including partial nudity, the film is two hours long.

A shy, brilliant M.I.T. student Sturgess), desperately in need of money to go to Harvard Medical School, is recruited to join a group of the school's most gifted students (Bosworth, etc.) who head to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. The leader of the team is a college professor (Spacey) who did the same thing as a young man. The challenge becomes staying one step ahead of the casinos' menacing enforcer (Fishburne) who's been after the professor for years.

This turned out to be more enjoyable than expected. Ten years ago this would have starred Affleck or Damon or Pitt but they're too expensive now so a younger group takes their place. And, they do a fine job. Spacey and Fishburne are excellent as always. While two hours long, the film never drags so the time passes quickly. There are the requisite plot twists but everything is explained and audiences should be happy with the ending. While Vegas looks good on the big screen, one isn't absolutely necessary to enjoy this film so waiting for the DVD is an option you can safely consider.