Remake fails to match original

THE ITALIAN JOB opens with a robbery set against the spectacular backdrop of Venice.

A group of thieves, led by Charlie (Mark Wahlberg) and John Bridger (Donald Sutherland, pull off the perfect heist and are set to walk away with $35m in gold.

That is until Steve (Edward Norton) doublecrosses everyone, steals the gold, kills John and tries to wipe out the gang before making his getaway.

It isn’t too tough to work out what happens next. The gang members are going to have their revenge.

Charlie once again joins up with weapons expert Left Ear (Mos Def), computer expert Lyle (Seth Green) and driver Handsome Rob (Jason Statham) to steal back the gold.

They are joined by John’s daughter Stella (Charlize Theron), a police cracker, of the safe variety, who’s looking to avenge the death of her father.

So what makes The Italian Job special? Nothing really. It has just about everything you’d expect from a film of its genre: car chases, murders, lots of gadgets, a few twists and action by the barrelful.

You can’t help but feel you’ve seen it all before. But, then again, it is a remake.

Action, 12. 2/5.