(rated PG-13)
When Martin Lawrence a professional con artist/thief falls in love with Amber (Carmen Ejogo), she offers him a token of her love in her deceased father’s onyx and diamond ring. Soon after, while on his next heist at a large Marblehead oceanfront mansion, the tables turn when Lawrence robs Max Fairbanks (Danny DeVito) who steals the ring away from the thief! Who knew a tiny ring could cause such a commotion? The two try to outdo each other in a story that is set up instantly with a fake romance and continues on through more unexplained nonsense that seems it was intended to be. Why would Amber, a lovely soft-spoken anthropologist want to be with a thief? Why would DeVito’s wife a Brahmin type from Beacon Hill want him? DeVito delivers his “Ruthless People” performance, and Lawrence is full of comic energy. Yet, despite some fun sidekick characters including local Bostonian Lenny Clarke and a gay/colorful detective (in Boston?) William Fichtner, What’s The Worst That Can Happen answers its own question. This movie.
