Synopsis:

The U.S. government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre.

The Freak's Rating: C- : Living in central Illinois, I grew up around as much corn as you could imagine. In our area, 95% of the population has worked with corn at some point in their lives. Escalating up that scale, I was able to work for IFSI, a genetic breeder of sweet corn. I was advised against disclosing any information at all regarding my position in the company due to some of the events that took place during the scandal this film is based upon.

Matt Damon and Steven Soderbergh work well together. They have great chemistry and Damon is on his game when given the freedom this director obviously allows him. There is no doubt some improvisation, but it is well done and never feels pushed onto us. Damon's performance is perfect here. He plays a bumbling idiot desperate for some 007 experience. Without Damon, the film completely falls apart. With Damon, it barely holds together anyway.

The real issue here is with the script. Though the movie is billed and promoted as a comedy, it takes too many dramatic turns for its own good. Damon's idiocy is what makes the film's best moments, but they are sadly few and far between. When comedy is the focus, the film does well, but the dramatic moments make you feel bad for Damon's character and therefore when we jump back into the comedy, the laughs die down.

A little more care was needed here with the screenplay. Turning from comedy to drama is a feat that can be accomplished, but continually flipping back and forth isn't the method to use.

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