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Any heist film worth its salt has to have a central character who is somewhat enigmatic, but oozes charisma. Pixie has that in spades when it comes to its titular character, played to perfection by Olivia Cooke. Directed by Barnaby Thompson from a script by Preston Thompson, Pixie isn’t an average heist thriller, employing a plethora of twists and turns that amplify the story and are authentic enough to be believable. The film is bolstered by the strength of Cooke's magnetic performance and is energetically entertaining, heartbreakingly sad, and darkly humorous.

Pixie is set in Ireland and opens with Colin (Rory Fleck Byrne) and Fergus (Fra Fee), two robbers who plan to steal from a church and threaten the priests inside at gunpoint, demanding they hand over a large bag of drugs worth millions of Euros. A shootout ensues and the pair get away, but the film subverts expectations with an abrupt reveal and a bloody path leading back to Cooke’s Pixie, the daughter of a gangster (Colm Meaney) who plots to avenge her mother’s death and escape her small town for a new start in San Francisco. Suffice it to say that her plan quickly goes awry and she joins up with two local guys, Frank (Ben Hardy) and Harland (Daryl McCormack), after they accidentally become embroiled in Pixie’s heist scheme. It’s one that includes Pixie’s step-brother (Turlough Convery) and a group of criminal priests led by Father Hector McGrath (Alec Baldwin).

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To say that Pixie is a wild ride from start to finish would be doing the film a disservice. It's more than that and once it gets going and the audience realizes what's happening, the story never lets up. Even when it seems like the journey could become somewhat predictable, the film takes a hard left and reveals new information that maintains the momentum while also adding an additional layer of depth. Pixie is a heist film with a lot of heart beneath its dark humor, combining aspects of an adventurous thriller with that of a uniquely told and stylized revenge arc.

There is nary a dull moment, with the small town setting also serving as a clever blanket of well-kept secrets that begin to come to light in incredibly witty fashion. The film, for all its strengths and laughs, wouldn't work without Cooke's engaging performance as Pixie. She's charming, a mystery to most everyone in town, all of whom attempt to get close to her in some way or other. However, a stereotype she is not. Cooke's portrayal is balanced, showcasing incredible range that alternates between sadness at the losses she has faced, whip-smart intelligence that translates into quick thinking in the face of near death experiences and sticky situations, and affection towards the family members who always have her back.

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Everyone else seems to think that nothing can penetrate her tough exterior, but as the film goes on, it becomes clear that there's far more to her than meets the eye. Cooke magnificently captures every emotion, all while maintaining a mischievous spark that fuels her every action and pulls people towards her despite the trouble that follows. What’s more, Thompson's film is incredibly well-paced, never lingering on any one scene or character exchange longer than needed. Pixie also makes good use of its scenic setting, with the rolling green hills of Ireland serenely contrasting the violence and shenanigans happening throughout the film.

Baldwin as an unhinged and criminal priest is strangely perfect and it seems like the actor is having a ball playing such an unexpected character. It's not really surprising, though, considering the entirety of Pixie is one surprise after another. There is an assurance that permeates the film and, even when it seems like there's no way some subplots can be pulled off narratively, Pixie digs in and does it anyway with an abundance of zeal. It's a heist film that oozes with confidence and style, with its aims to please the audience and deliver a multilayered thriller working in its favor.

Pixie is playing in select theaters, on digital and on demand March 5, 2021. The film is 93 minutes long and is rated R for violence, language, drug content and some sexual references.