: A sophisticated, high-stakes British grifter who swindles the ultra-wealthy in Beaumont-sur-Mer.
The 2019 film , directed by Chris Addison, is a gender-swapped remake of the 1988 classic Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (itself a remake of 1964's Bedtime Story ). Starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson, the movie explores themes of female empowerment, competition, and the art of the con against the backdrop of the glamorous French Riviera. Plot Summary and Narrative Structure The story follows two vastly different con artists:
Their paths cross on a train, leading Josephine to attempt to drive Penny out of her territory. Instead, they form an uneasy alliance where Josephine mentors Penny. The narrative tension peaks when they place a wager: the first to swindle from a seemingly naive tech billionaire, Thomas Westerburg (Alex Sharp) , gets to stay in town while the other must leave. Critical Analysis and Themes
: A "low-rent" Australian hustler who uses crude physical humor and "catfishing" tactics to fleece men for small amounts.
The film attempts to modernize its predecessors through a "feminist" lens, suggesting that women must be superior con artists because men refuse to believe a woman could be smarter than them. However, critics argue the film largely fails to capitalize on this premise.
