Damon shines in “The Informant!”, but story falls short

Steven Soderbergh is probably best known for “Erin Brockovich” and the “Ocean’s Eleven” franchise. Soderbergh’s newest film, “The Informant!,” stylistically falls somewhere between the two. In terms of actual entertainment value, it falls far below both.

“The Informant!,” starring “Ocean’s”-alumnus Matt Damon, tells the true story of Mark Whitacre, a bipolar corporate executive who informs the FBI of his own company’s corrupt business practices.

The film, set in the early 90s, looks phenomenal. Soderbergh uses a very warm color palette and makes frequent use of titles to illustrate the various settings, as Whitacre finds his way through the film.

Matt Damon does an excellent job portraying Whitacre, the childlike, titular informant. A far cry from Jason Bourne, Whitacre is hapless and frequently irritating in his naivety. Though a protagonist, he has virtually none of the qualities that make a protagonist likable or relatable. Only an actor as talented as Damon could make this movie tolerable, and he manages to do just that and not much more.

The first third of the film is well-paced and well-acted, as the viewer is introduced to Whitacre’s quirky character through first-person narration. Once the actual “informing” starts, however, the film starts to slow down. Whitacre’s motives are never made clear to the viewer and this makes his character less and less likable as the film continues. By the end of the film, Whitacre, who was once something of a puppy-dog character, is more of a fool trying to maintain his marginal fame.

The supporting cast is, by and large, bland and underused. Joel McHale (“The Soup”) is wasted as an FBI agent, and his partner, played by Scott Bakula, is equally boring. Melanie Lynskey (“Two and a Half Men”) is one of the bright spots of the film, playing Whitacre’s loving wife, Ginger.

Fans of Damon or Soderbergh might want to see this film; however, the average viewer has little to like about this film that couldn’t be found in a more enjoyable context like “Ocean’s Eleven.” Damon in a fake mustache and toupee is entertaining, but not for an hour and 48 minutes.

C-