White Boy Rick is the cinematic equivalent of Sloppy Joes. It tastes good, but it never coalesces into something satisfying, with a solid base of support to keep it together. White Boy Rick has all the ingredients of a great film. A stellar all-star cast, excellent cinematography, razor-sharp editing and a story that keeps you invested the entire time. But something seems missing. For one, some of the story seems rushed to get to the more interesting aspects, without properly explaining how we get there. For example, how did the FBI hone into Rick and his father for an FBI investigation? The agents just appear in the beginning, and we're supposed to roll with it. Now you understand why I compared it to Sloppy Joes. The exposition, at times, is pretty sloppy. But fortunately, never once did that take me out of the film. White Boy Rick is a thoroughly good time at the movies. The performances, notably from McConaughey, are top notch. White Boy Rick himself garners sympathy as a lost soul, and that's important to clarify. Some people might write this off as a run-of-the-mill crime thriller biting off "The Wire". If I was so inclined to be jaded, maybe I'd agree. But always give things the benefit of the doubt. Give it a watch?

In looking up this film to write this review, I noted that a documentary film was released the year before with the real Richie Wershawe, Jr. and others telling this story. I will be looking that up to see if there are significant differences.

This is a tale worth telling and it's quite an indictment of Detroit and its governance as well as the war on drugs. Sad though that it moves at such a baby snail pace.

Young Richie Merritt does what he has to to survive as does his blue collar father Matthew McConaughey with factories closing all over the Detroit area and suburbs. McConaughey makes a living selling guns out of his car, transporting them from other states with less restrictions and Merritt helps out.

Both the FBI and the Detroit police narcotics unit spot this kid who is only in his mid teens when the story starts. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rory Cochrane are the FBI and Brian Tyree Henry is the Detroit PD. Young Merritt is recruited to be an informer and he gets involved with some of the drug gangs. Known to one and all as White Boy Rick.

The best part of the film are the Wershawe family scenes especially with McConaughey and Merritt. I think Merritt was under too much directorial restraint in his performance. Outstanding is Bel Powley as Merritt's crack addicted sister. Veterans Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie I only wish had more time as the grandparents. In fact Dern pronounces a heartfelt verdict in the end on a law enforcement system that used and abandoned Merritt.

It's a good film White Boy Rick, sad it falls considerably short of greatness.

It's 1984. 14 year old high school dropout Rick Wershe Jr. (Richie Merritt) joins his gunrunning father (Matthew McConaughey) in a gun buying trip and transporting them into Detroit. His mother left the family long ago. His sister Dawn (Bel Powley) leaves with her boyfriend falling into drug addiction. He sells AKs with silencers to his best friend Boo's crime family. He's given the nickname White Boy Rick and brought into the drug world with its corrupt cops and corrupt politicians. FBI Agents Snyder (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Byrd (Rory Cochrane) with DPD Narcotics Detective Jackson recruit Rick and starts him off into dealing crack.

This boy is an idiot which is sorta interesting and sorta infuriating. It does not engender any sympathy or rooting interest. Having newcomer Merritt be the lead has a reality to the movie but he is not the movie star type. He does look rough and older than the character's age. It could have been a comedic character but Merritt is not that capable. The Star of David is really hilarious. The other issue is the attempt in the closing moments to gain sympathy for his plight. There is no sympathy to be had for his idiocy. He's lucky that he didn't get killed in prison. It's never clear why he would work for the FBI other than being a teenage idiot. This story is actually quite interesting. It could have tried for some better comedy. It could have heighten the tension. It's an interesting movie with some limiting flaws.