“Above the Line” follows six Hollywood hopefuls who get the “opportunity of a lifetime” to burglarize a movie producer who once screwed them over.
Co-writer and director Jeffrey Scott Collins dives directly into the narrative, quickly introducing the basic premise and lead characters before the title card appears. The plot itself is literally spelled out through Ant Simpson’s narration. While it’s somewhat of a “cheesy” introduction, it also makes the film feel like a Christmas tale, with a clear opening and eventual bookend closing.
Following the simplistic preface, it shifts in a different direction. Amid the central storyline, the movie pauses to focus on character, upending the initial fast-paced and high-stakes environment. Through individual lore, viewers are given time to decide who they trust and who they don’t, one person at a time. In doing so, “Above the Line” doesn’t always follow a chronological trajectory, implementing flashbacks and different points of view to further emphasize the characters’ feelings. Because it never shows too much, you’ll be left guessing, which works in the film’s favor.
The characters themselves are cliché-riddled, outwardly portraying different caricatures. This could have easily grown annoying, but the actors sell the personas. The core cast includes Sophia Ali (Princess), Jamie Lee (Dame), Reno Wilson (Ghost), Dylan Playfair (Cowboy), Jackson Pace (Spaceman) and John Way (Hero). There are also appearances from Cedric the Entertainer (Tracy), Gregg Henry (Jack Woodrow) and Adhir Kalyan (Officer Dalton).
Surprisingly, it’s these side characters that stand out the most in “Above the Line.” While the core cast maintains realism, the additions of Cedric the Entertainer, Henry and Kalyan add much-needed comedy. Cedric the Entertainer brings an instant burst of humor with his “high” dialogue. Henry is a menacing figure, acting lighthearted while delivering intimidating gazes and mannerisms. Kalyan is the most absurd of the bunch, generating laughs despite his character stretching the realm of reality on more than one occasion.
Like the synopsis suggests, it’s a movie about… movies. This means it’s full of industry lingo and monologues about scripts, franchises, Best Picture awards and more. While touching on serious industry trends (power abuse, sexism, financial hardship), it sometimes feels like buzzwords are thrown in. Even the title itself falls in line, with this explanation appearing onscreen before the film begins:
“‘Above-the-line’ refers to the list of individuals who guide and influence the creative direction of a film. These roles include but are not limited to the screenwriter, producer, director and actors.”
While another 2026 movie, “Scared to Death,” examined the ins and outs of movie production, “Above the Line” explores the people who aren’t household names — those who will do anything to “make it.” In this vein, it’s also a heist movie, similar to 2025’s “Stealing Pulp Fiction.”
Midway through the runtime, it appears like the heist itself has wrapped up. But is all as it seems? “Above the Line” has additional tricks up its sleeve that propel the film to its 90-minute feature-length runtime. There’s an unconventional approach to the whodunit, with Collins and Jono Matt’s script seemingly spelling out the reveals. Time and time again, characters shout, “It’s you!” With that, it appears like that is where things are ultimately heading, except they’re not. Continuously rattling off possible scenarios, it manages to remain unexpected by being more intricate than meets the eye.
Director of photography Garrett O’Brien is constantly adding movement to scenes. As characters sit in a circle, the camera spins around for a disorienting effect. Lens flares are often present as well to add a stylistic touch to what could be generic settings. As with any indie production, there are some liberties taken. Occasional hiccups occur with noticeable ADR and jarring cuts, but “Above the Line” largely remains a technical success.
“Above the Line” is a movie for the “little guy.” It’s heist, whodunit and Hollywood all in one — a story that has something to say and has plenty of fun doing it.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
