Shawn Simmons makes his feature directorial debut with Eenie Meanie, a crime-thriller starring Samara Weaving, Karl Glusman, Andy Garcia, and Marshawn Lynch. The film follows Edie (Weaving), a former teenage getaway driver who’s tried to leave her past behind. When her unreliable ex (Glusman) drags her back into danger, she’s forced into one last high-stakes heist — a ride filled with double crosses, chaos, and car chases.
I went into Eenie Meanie with no expectations. I hadn’t even heard of the film until it landed in my inbox, but the cast and the promise of a directorial debut piqued my interest. Right away, the technical aspects stood out: solid cinematography, strong sound design, a cool soundtrack, and some genuinely fun car chases. They’re not on the scale of Fast & Furious, but the stunts were entertaining enough to keep me engaged.
At the center of it all, Samara Weaving gives the most compelling performance. She plays a woman torn between leaving her past behind and being pulled back into it by someone she shouldn’t still love. That struggle is relatable and Weaving sells it well. Karl Glusman holds his own opposite her, while Andy Garcia and Marshawn Lynch add some presence, though their roles feel underused.
Unfortunately, the film’s biggest problems are its tone and script. The dialogue often feels forced or cringeworthy, and attempts at edgy humor rarely land. At times, Eenie Meanie feels like it’s reaching for the slickness of Ocean’s Eleven, but without the wit or charm to back it up. Many side characters exist for a scene or two without much purpose, and some moments felt like filler rather than character-building.
Narratively, the film struggles to find its footing. There’s one emotional scene between Weaving and Glusman that stands out, but beyond that, character development feels thin. The pacing drags in places, and by the third act, the story starts to unravel. Big “dramatic” beats get quickly undone, leaving the ending feeling hollow and ultimately pointless.
Eenie Meanie has the ingredients for a fun, stylish heist thriller: a promising director, a solid cast, good stunt work, and a slick presentation. But the script holds it back, with uneven tone, weak dialogue, and too many scenes that don’t add up. It’s not a total waste — there are moments of fun — but overall it left me feeling underwhelmed.
I’m curious to see what Shawn Simmons does in the future, but this debut didn’t quite come together for me.
Rating: 4/10.