Julia Roberts is especially good as her role almost entirely involves emoting through her voice, but even George Clooney nicely moderates his charisma to appear desperate and downright unlikable in parts.

As for the film, as long as you don’t go in expecting a critical indictment of Wall Street, and accept it for what it is – a pulpy B-movie – it’s going to be an immensely satisfying couple of hours. Or hour.

Watch this one. It is more than just a hostage-crisis film. It tries hard to make you think about the bigger picture, and mostly succeeds.

The main reason you’d want to watch Money Monster is for Clooney and Roberts, whose performances elevate the film above its script. Together they bring in the chemistry of Ocean’s Eleven and make things fun. The film keeps you on your toes at all times, even though the climax does fizzle out a bit. Watch this and you may not be moved but you’ll definitely be entertained.

The film is tautly drawn and the suspense is nail-bitingly assured but the narrative elements fail to stand-up to closer scrutiny. Jodie’s sincerity though, comes through quite clearly as do that of the A list cast that do the honors in bringing to life this straining-to-stay-above-board genre flick.

George Clooney, Julia Roberts are the best thing about this half-baked film…

Overall, despite a great hook, the film is just a popcorn thriller, that never really packs the emotional punch it promised.

Other than its brilliant star cast, Money Monster has a lot to offer in terms of direction, story and engagement. It doesn’t matter if finance or stocks are not up your alley. This mind-blowing thriller does not demand your intellect or attention – it simply takes it from you!

Unlike The Big Short, Money Monster does not tie itself up in jargon and practices, but explores the larger conspiracy and its human impact, particularly on the small investor. Foster deftly handles tonal shifts between humour, satire and comment to deliver a timely and thrilling entertainer.

At any rate, it becomes quite satisfying escapist fare. And that isn’t exactly a bad thing. Like those songs you play a few times and forget, Money Monster holds your attention while you watch it, but you best leave it alone after that.

Despite strenuously ignoring its tremendous potential for black comedy, Money Monster ticks along on the assured turns by its star leads. Julia Roberts is especially lovely as the dream producer who, in a less toothless movie, would have been the real monster in the studio.

The movie is competently made, but also perfunctory, telling us things about the greed of rich business executives and the shallowness of cable TV that we already know.

And if you care about your money, just watch the trailer – it gives away far too much.