The instigators tries to be a different kind of buddy movie.

Two wannabe thieves (played by their real-life buddies Matt Damon and Casey Affleck) are on a crazy plot full of robberies and chases (pretty good ones, I must say), all the while whining and generally being grumpy and scared, so it’s a bit of a movie about depressed buddies.

For me, it was a refreshing change. I have to give it a few minus points for some unforgivably implausible moments and some subterfuge, but overall I enjoyed director Doug Liman’s latest film.

Rory (Damon) and Cobby (Affleck) become embroiled in a plan to rob a big city mayor (Ron Perlman) on election night. The supposedly foolproof plan was hatched by an angry crime boss (Michael Stuhlbarg, uncharacteristically cast – and hilarious), and things don’t go as planned. Rory and Cobby eventually flee, eventually with Rory’s therapist (Hong Chau) in tow.

Liman (whose last film, Street Housewas also released directly to streaming) features some great chases and the initial robbery is a fun experience, but some of the circumstances that follow are a letdown with implausible solutions. Rory and Cobby basically escape every impossible situation, sometimes off-screen, with no real explanation. The ending is a real hoot.

Damon’s insecure, neurotic, nervous demeanor is a refreshing turn for him, while Affleck is his usual droll, cheeky self. The two are good together and they make you care about Rory and Cobby, even if the script betrays them a little.

One more minor criticism: Stuhlbarg and Alfred Molina (who plays one of his sidekicks) are great in this film, but the script banishes them and limits their screen time. A little more of these guys would have gone a long way.

The instigators is now streaming on Apple TV+.