Matt Damon tries to outsmart a Fortune 500 company and the FBI in "The Informant!"
It's one of Damon's best roles ever, but he's locked into bland production that's too smart for its own good.
"The Informant" is dry comedy that divides the audience into two camps, either you'll be entertained by the repetitive inside jokes, or as I would advise, you'll think this film is about as funny as a tax audit.
Damon's pudgy, well played performance as corporate whistleblower, Mark Whitacre, is an unmatched high point.
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"The Infomant!"
News 8's Victor Diaz rates the film a four on a scale of one to eight.
 
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When it comes to broad comedy, "The Informant" is a bore. Whitaker's internal commentary is one of the main comical devices, but it's not that funny.
The satirical concept is the funniest part.
While volunteering as a mole who ferrets out a price fixing scandal, Whitaker's flaws are farcical. He's a chronic liar, and doesn't keep secrets very well.
The supporting cast includes Scott Backula and Joel McHale as FBI special agents who initially need Whiatker's help and eventually want nothing to do with him.
Director Steven Soderburgh has a habit of sucking the life out his subject material and this is another deadpan disappointment.
On the News 8 Scale of one to eight, "The Informant's" halfhearted laughs, earn a four.
