Teenage Bank Heist (2012 TV Movie) User Reviews

a fun little ride

[luvkylie003 · 6/10 · 4 March 2013]

Well after seeing a lot of 10-star movies lately because of Oscar season, it felt weird seeing one of these movies. but of course this isn't meant to be some mind-blowing thing. Saw it at a party with some friends, didn't think I was going to like it. But it starts off pretty good and teenage girls robbing banks -- hey there's a lot worse, less interesting stuff out there.

Acting wasn't too bad. lots of cheesy lines, but I guess you can say a couple of the actresses made lemonade out of lemons.

I think overall, if you're young and looking for a little popcorn flick, this is a good choice. its not boring, has an interesting plot, and the girls are pretty of course.

starsDOING THE WRONG THING FOR THE RIGHT REASON

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 8 June 2019]

Three girls rob a bank and take school mate Cassie (Abbie Cobb) as a hostage. The Redbox description tells you why which was a bigger spoiler than the opening scene which takes place 15 minutes into the film. Two of the girls Abbie (Cassi Thomson) and Grace (Davida Williams) are friends with Cassie while the third girl Marie (Augie Duke) supplies us with internal conflict.

Cassie's mom Joyce (Maeve Quinlan) doesn't trust the FBI investigating the case and ventures out on her own to save her daughter. Maeve Quinlan is the perennial TV mom who reminded he way too much of the made for TV movie mom. Rosa Blasi plays the overly stiff FBI investigator armed with slo-mo swagger music and a set of 38s.

The main actors were acceptable, but the support cast was simply bad. The made for TV script was bland heighten by moments of mock drama. A film for the younger generation.

Parental Guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity.

Ambitious Lifetime movie

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 1 March 2014]

Cassie (Abbie Cobb) is a reluctant bank teller for her mother Joyce (Maeve Quinlan). Then 3 robbers come in. Cassie recognizes one of them as her best friend Abbie (Cassi Thomson), and she's taken hostage. She crashes the armor truck and injures her other friend Grace (Davida Williams). She helps them take care of Grace and finds out the real reason for the robbery. The other girl Marie (Augie Duke) is older and is doing it for the money with her boyfriend Nick (James Ferris). Meanwhile police agent Mendoza (Rosa Blasi) suspects that Cassie is actually in on the robbery.

It's an ambitious bank heist story, and a passable Lifetime movie. The girls are perfectly likable. The dialog is a little clunky at times. It starts off slowly, but it gets better. However the ambitious plot goes over the edge with a lack of overall style and competent action directions. A big screen movie would push the action to the next level, but this just doesn't have the next gear.

Do not watch if over age of 16

[Otte1 · 3/10 · 6 August 2018]

Good: The pacing is well done, enough to keep you wanting to know what happens at the end. Acting is decent enough.

Bad: Many other things. With a movie name that has 'Teenage' in it, you know to expect some dumb decisions. Problem is you cannot have characters that create Sherlock-like plans one minute then do many other things on the level of a bratty first grader five minutes later. And this includes parents and cops. The ending(if you are over age 16) will make you say WTF. This movie plays more like a long after-school TV special and not exaggerating that last statement.

Bad script

[spearseven · 3/10 · 28 February 2013]

Good acting, bad script.

The acting is particularly good considering the terrible script. It must be hard to read stupid lines. It really takes some skill to keep a straight face as they do.

The FBI defends the guard who shot at a moving vehicle with a hostage. Is this a stupid attempt at gun control politics?

I can almost hear the producers, "crap script - but young girls robbing a bank may get enough viewers to turn a profit."

Did the director read the script first? He must be desperate for work!

There's not much more to say about this movie.

Teens gone bad-kinda. Don't waste your time.

[Eatme4215 · 3/10 · 14 August 2013]

I missed the second 1/2 of this to visit a friend in the hospital, but since its a lifetime movie, got to catch it on the second play. Now I'm wishing I wouldn't have bothered! It started out well, but SO MANY plot holes! Someone else mentioned this already, but left out the biggest one...OK she robbed a bank and they're pinning it on someone else...but there's TWO DEAD PEOPLE SHE SHOT JUST LAYING THERE IN HER HOUSE!!!! And the movie just ENDS, no mention of this, just "ok get out of here, I'll take care of this". They had this woman arguing about leaving her daughter (I still don't know why) but it's perfectly fine the other girl murdered 2 people. That just spoiled the whole thing for me, and made me want the 2 hours I spent watching this back.

looks like Kelly Taylor

[RavenGlamDVDCollector · 7/10 · 8 October 2017]

Plot holes? Of course there are plot holes galore. You could drive TWO of those cash-carrying security armored trucks side by side through the unexplained gaps in this little flick's story- line. But I didn't buy it to experience the thrills of some superlatively- filmed teen bank robbery. No, I collect movies starring pretty girls, and I went from a 90210 guest star (Caitlin Thompson) to WALKING THE HALLS, and that DVD had this one's trailer, and I took one look, Just One Look, at this pretty squirrel fox who plays the female lead, and I thought "good golly jeepers that kid looks just like Jennie Garth!" which brought the circle back to BEVERLY HILLS 90210. Now, those were the heady days, I was so mesmerized by that one back then, And This, This Is Like Having Jennie Garth Re- Born! So, I am just sitting here, staring wistfully at this pretty actress, this wonderful beautiful young girl, and am I gonna complain about plot holes? Nope.

Aw. The script takes on too much. Actually, I should say the story-line takes on too much. The creators thought about having pretty girls be the robbers, but they all (except one scapegoat) had to be innocent... and for a basically small project with limitations this causes immense stretching of belief. Cassi and her kidnapped by terrorists Dad. Too much. Way too much. I mean, my brain is turned to much by the beauty on-screen, but shucks, there are so many complications.

Like, this junior bank official can sit there with freaking hot evidence and download a print-out unseen unquestioned? That kind of evidence, the FBI (or whoever) would have taken hold of immediately, as considerable cash is involved. Also, she rushes off, and later on, the police ask, where is she? D- uh, I mean, like, I am mesmerized by the blonde kid, but this TV movie really falters about within a few minutes.

Notice the bloodless fatal gunshots.

And Abbie is screwed big-time, as, like another reviewer has already pointed out, back home lies two (unexplained) dead bodies. So that little arrangement with Agent Mendoza is pointless. Like the movie.

But complain? Man! Me? Gawd, if Abbie Cobb presented the bleeding weather forecast on telly, I'd damn well tune in.

Too many plot holes

[Jscouillard · 3/10 · 1 June 2013]

This movie had just too many plot holes.

• There are, in fact, three armored security guards per truck. Not two. - The money held in banks is marked, so while the girl could've used it to barter for her father, she wouldn't have been able to use it herself unless she had a money laundering business. Bagging and keeping anything above her required 500,000 would have been pointless. She seemed smart enough to have known this, given her heisting abilities. - The mother could have easily been arrested for actions. - The final fight where the FBI agent gives the gun to the dead Mexican...

A) his prints would not have been on it. His fingers were barely touching.

B) did she wipe that gun before handing it over?

C) the gun was shot at the man in question, therefore cops would have noticed that the gun was used agaisnt him, and not that he used it agaisnt the FBI agent. D) The Mexican had a fully loaded AK47 at his feet... With his fingerprints all over it. Why would he be seen dead holding that crappy pistol?

Just wrong. Wrong!

Hidden gem

[dzl-85350 · 7/10 · 9 March 2020]

I'm not sure why it was given such low rating because maybe big names are not affiliated with this movie. I myself found it to be very exciting. Even though it's a low budget movie but the actors have done a great job. Writing, plot are not nonsensical. TBH, we have enjoyed this movie. Those who haven't watched it yet, should give it a shot. Watch the whole thing before passing judgments.

It's a movie.

[Dankhimself · 4/10 · 20 August 2018]

It's like a long episode of a TV show from the bad guy's POV. You don't get to know much of a backstory other than what they explain to you word for word in a procedural cop show kind of way.

Superlative

[AJSteele · 10/10 · 5 April 2013]

Thank you. Yes thank you actors, director Doug Campbell, and everyone else who was involved in creating this solid piece of film-making. This is a film you may typically skip over when looking for the big blockbusters, but don't. I actually almost did the aforementioned, but do to my interest in "heist" films, committed the title to memory from Red Box where I saw it, then scanned the web for further info on it.

I'm pretty sure this was a direct to home video film from MCI but it plays as good as any high end Hollywood film. This is a "TV movie" because of the affiliation with the Lifetime network but you would never know that to be the case after seeing it in my opinion. Also it is shot in widescreen and doesn't have a clunky TV aura to it. I can tell you that the film is not so much about plotting and planning a bank robbery, but more about the dynamics that reveal themselves in between. The acting is top notch for this kind of budget restricted film, and I can be one tough critic. These are some "giving it all you've got" portrayals that deserve recognition. I was on the seat of my pants waiting for the next twist or latent clue to come that eventually did and never failed to satisfy.

"Teenage Bank Heist" has some real actors in it that spout their lines with an incredibly realistic delivery. Almost nothing screamed "fake" to me and the little that did was based in pure sentimentality that works for films anyway. The camera shots were absolutely superb with limited but highly plausible action sequences. I would love to have seen extras on the DVD with interviews or behind the scenes footage but I don't even know if the film-makers knew how good a film they made. Plus, this was probably a package deal that had limitations with its distributing. This goes beyond just renting, its a keeper. I hope it catches on.

The players:

Maeve Quinlan: Joyce (Cassie's mom played with authentic determination) Abbie Cobb: Cassie (carries the film with bewilderment and empathy) Cassie Thompson: Abbie (knows how a gutsy thinking girl acts) Augie Duke: Maria (rage, spot on, period) Davida Williams: Grace (a quiet loss projected) James Ferris: Nick (has the unstable bad a$* role cornered) Rosa Blasi: Agent Mendoza (this is the FBI- a talented to the core portrayal with sugar on top) The "secondary" cast members more than held their own as well. And yes I know the two female leads Cassie and Abbie must have switched their real names with each other for their characters names- cool.

compared to expectations not bad

[dannykovats · 7/10 · 2 September 2023]

Its clearly a television movie but there's no major flaw that could be pointed out. The pacing is done correctly and the plot is engaging, enough. Every single character has a motivation and (sometimes weird) background. The message is flimsy at best.

The cinematography, though at times rather unimaginative and uninspired, oftentimes blossoms into relative sublimity.

The score is nothing truly remarkable but does its job quite fine. It adds tension to already well-crafted scenes of great suspense with great effect. Could be described as penile even flacid so...

Overall it was engaging enough to watch through.

The most senseless movie

[kenyondeshonhendley · 1/10 · 2 August 2022]

I'm going to start with everything that I like about the movie. All women lead

Now everything I hate about the movie 1. The mom is the most pointless character in the movie being super annoying for no reasoning at all but just because she a Mom. Just doing to much and it was annoying.

2. The bracelet scene was beyond stupid anyone could have wore the bracelet it was a weak way too forward the plot. Why would you even wear your friendship bracelet to a bank robbery especially when you are robbing your best friend job.

3. Her robbing the bank for her dad is just weak I would had perfer that they rob a bank for college because it was too expensive or even that just because they want quick cash.

4. she said that she didn't know the other girls but all of a sudden they was also bff and grew up together they don't make sense.

5. If someone shot a gun 6 times during the day someone would had to had called the police and why didn't the FBI agent asked about the 3rd girl and the man. So they just gonna rot and die in the house? Not everything need to be answer but still make it make sense.

6.someone would see that it is a cover up and that 3 high school girl heights are vastly different to the 3 men they place the blame on and would also see that one of them have a broken leg like stated on the news. How are you gonna chase 3 white women and a black girl then turn around blame it on 3 men out the blue.

They mostly have good acting and effects but that it. It suck that the only male role was a man who messed with younger girls but the plot and writing sucked and didn't really make sense you can tell they was just rolling with the punches and didn't think half of everything out.

A good feeling movie

[SOONERTRUCKINMAN · 7/10 · 21 August 2021]

Very worth a look see. A movie for the family. Not an Oscar contender, which is a good thing these days.

Teenage Bank Heist.

[mittoo · 10/10 · 6 November 2020]

In the time of "CORONAVIRUS WORLD WAR - 3" in 2020 when your own life is at the hands of a invisible pandemic it's cinema that breaks all barriers and provides solace and entertainment in the confines of my house . A riveting suspense bank robbery with a difference and a "Police Encounter" end. Worth the watch as this movie is different compared to average crime heists and "Crime and Punishment" saga's.

Cool Movie

[towhidmahee · 10/10 · 29 April 2020]

I love their Friendship goal. Incredible and Real life related

Cinematic great

[roadkillprincess · 10/10 · 2 September 2018]

Best movie I've seen with my eyeballs HANDS DOWN! stick it to the naysayers!!Naysayers!!! How dare they! This is a true masterpiece. Brilliance overLOAD. Perfect, exquisite, gorgeousness.