Lift

Lift: A High-Flying Heist with a Side of Irony

Picture this: a professional thief and his merry band of misfits decide that robbing a plane at 40,000 feet is a great idea. I mean, who wouldn’t want to pull off a heist so outrageous it makes Ocean’s Eleven look like a bake sale? Welcome to Lift, where logic takes a backseat and the only thing soaring higher than the airplane is the sheer audacity of the plot!

Our anti-hero, a master thief with more charm than a leprechaun at a pot of gold convention, assembles his ragtag crew. They are a delightful mix of stereotypes: the tech wizard who can’t seem to fix his own love life, the muscle who thinks “subtlety” is a type of sandwich, and the lookout who spends more time on TikTok than actually looking out. Together, they hatch a plan to steal a whopping $500 million in gold bars. Because, naturally, robbing a moving aircraft in mid-air is just another Tuesday for these characters.

As the gang prepares for their audacious caper, we are treated to a montage of training sequences that feel like they were lifted straight out of a 90s action flick. They practice their moves like they’re auditioning for a reality show titled “So You Think You Can Steal?” Spoiler alert: they can’t. But hey, who needs practice when you have a script that bends the laws of physics like a pretzel?

Once airborne, the heist kicks off with all the subtlety of a marching band in a library. Our thief, dressed in a suit that screams “I mean business,” sneaks aboard the plane as if he’s just another passenger. The irony here is rich—because nothing says “I’m blending in” like a three-piece suit on a flight where everyone else is in sweatpants. The tension builds as he navigates through a sea of unsuspecting passengers, all while trying to avoid the very obvious security measures that seem to exist solely to keep him on his toes.

As the plan unfolds, the crew’s antics reach new heights (pun absolutely intended). There’s a moment when they attempt to create a distraction involving a malfunctioning in-flight entertainment system. Spoiler: the only thing that malfunctions is their plan. Instead of chaos, they inadvertently turn the flight into a karaoke night, complete with off-key renditions of classic hits. Who knew a heist could double as a musical? The passengers are more entertained than alarmed, and before you know it, our thief is belting out “I Will Survive” while trying to make off with gold bars. Talk about a plot twist!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a heist movie without betrayal. Just when you think our hero is about to escape with the loot, one of his crew members reveals their true colors. Turns out, they’ve been more interested in a solo career than the collective heist. This twist is about as shocking as realizing the sun rises in the east—totally predictable but still somehow entertaining. As the gold bars tumble from the plane, it’s a race against time, betrayal, and gravity.

In the end, Lift delivers a whirlwind of chaos, laughter, and an almost absurd level of irony. It’s a film that pokes fun at the heist genre while simultaneously embracing every cliché it can find. So, if you’re in the mood for a film that’s as light as the altitude it’s set at, look no further. Just remember: next time you’re on a flight, keep an eye out for anyone in a suit who seems just a little too keen on the in-flight entertainment.