4/12 ForReel Score | 2/5 Stars

It is so silly how many movies are made about Hollywood actors - not even those biopics about actors from the past, they are made up people’s stories. We are given these middle aged white men in crises. Why are they in a bad place you may ask? Well, it tends to be because of something they did to themselves. 2010’s Crazy Heart, and even last year’s Jay Kelly both follow huge stars with massive egos. While these films are not always lousy, they are repetitive and in this era, they are completely unnecessary. Films like these can find their target audience, those who will just enjoy them no matter what. But with others, such as myself, it takes a little bit more to convince us.

Though he might have tried to create and direct what is being classified as a ‘dark comedy,’ Jonah Hill’s Outcome is plainly a childish film with humour for teenage boys. As a female in her 20s, I cannot help but be completely annoyed with this level of immaturity. In this, Outcome lost its hold on me as a viewer with the sense of humour that most people tend to shy away from in recent years. What makes Outcome so special? From my point of view, it lies in few of the cast. The chance to watch this ensemble of actors intrigued me, but by the end, I do have to say it was not entirely what I expected. For the regular viewer, the film is made for you. Simple to watch, easy to understand, and actors you can recognize. There is definitely a market for the film, so it makes sense that Apple Studios would support making it.

Keanu Reeves plays Reef Hawk, a Hollywood poster child. Being famous since the age of six, now in his 50s, he is not doing well. After years of drug abuse, he has finally succeeded in sobriety after a five year break from the industry. Thinking everything is fine, his life is thrown up in the air when he receives a call from his high strung lawyer, Ira Slitz (Jonah Hill) who states a blackmailer has a mysterious video of questionable content surrounding Reef. In order to try and solve the mystery of who the blackmailer is and what this video is, along with the help of his lifelong friends, Kyle (Cameron Diaz) and Xander (Matt Bomer), Reef sets out on a soul-searching journey to make amends.

In the most endearing way, Reeves brings himself to this performance. It feels as though it was written for him, and though he himself is nothing like the character, his portrayal just feels right. Watching Reeves’ portrayal of Reef though, I could not help but be annoyed at the character even though it ‘s through the actor’s innocence that an element of comfort was there. The tenderness brought by Reeves gives a tenderness as Reef begins to understand the past and changing through apologizing and giving others a chance to be people. As I watched him move and perform, I wondered how much of it was performance and how much was just him being himself. While Reef is for sure selfish though, I cannot say if Reeves’ personality is, the two do have similarities. This comedy is slightly two sided in that why can you like a film that is focusing on ‘victimizing’ a straight white middle aged man.

Unfortunately, the role is at times overshadowed by the immaturity of the lawyer. You cannot help but wonder why Hill wrote the script in the way he did. There is a teenage-boy-like humour to much of what Slitz says and as an adult woman, it is difficult to find any of it funny. Of course, just like 2007’s Superbad, there is an f-bomb dropped almost every other minute. So, really, I should not have been overly surprised. But there was something about the story of Outcome that had originally been appealing. By the end, however, Outcome itself truly does not feel like a movie.

Yet, there is a saving grace and that is in the three best friends. Though it has its dramatized elements, it is easier to relate to it than you would think. Apart from the lawyers, they truly seem out of this world; Reef, Kyle and Xander are the friend group you wish you could have. Through the three of them, and their actors’ chemistry, you cannot help but wish for their happy ending to be together. It is in this sense where I felt like the movie was just people’s lives unfolding in front of me. I did not mind it, but the way in which Outcome felt so real was surreal somehow.

Like I said, there is truly nothing special in Outcome, but that does not need to be a bad thing. Apart from the unnecessary swearing and painfulness of Hill’s lawyer character, the others bring what is needed for a plot arc of this sort. A changed man whose past comes to haunt him must make amends before it is too late. Here there are only a few ways to end it, and even if it may be predictable, Outcome does give a sense of care to its protagonist. As you watch Reef take the time to apologize, his reasoning changes. Yes, it is always hilarious to see a grown man being proven he is wrong. But, it is even nicer to witness him understand what he can do as life moves forward.

Two types of audiences will seek out Outcome: Keanu Reeves fans, and those who enjoy teenage boy humour. Following your typical white middle aged male Hollywood actor feels like something we all do on the daily anyways. So, why make it a film? Because in Jonah Hill’s Outcome, there is definitely some heart to it for the viewer to experience. Releasing Friday April 10, 2026 on AppleTV+, this new film will either have you laughing or wondering why you put it on.

Movie Review: The Outcome Is Less Than Satisfactory For Jonah Hill's Apple TV Misfire "Outcome"