Here’s a good rule of thumb for making a movie: Don’t allow the press tour to be the most exciting component.The Rip,from the director Joe Carnahan,is a cop drama where macho guys (adn gals) tote carbine rifles and grunt law-enforcement lingo-the kind of crime-genre pablum that commonly gets thrown onto Netflix in mid-January. But this one comes with a ridiculously stacked cast, including, most vital, its two leads: ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The longtime Hollywood pals have dutifully hit the promotional circuit to talk up their latest collaboration, as well as argue over who’s the bigger New England Patriots fan, reminisce on their former shared bank account, and generally remind everyone about the wholesome endurance of their creative bond.
But none of that cheerfulness or easy friend chemistry can be found in the film they’re plugging. Damon and Affleck have acted together on-screen numerous times, but this is their first time sharing the top billing since Dogma, their 1999 dark comedy about a pair of fallen angels. The hiatus makes The Rip the kind of nostalgia-inducing star vehicle that should pique viewers’ curiosity-which is why its seeming disinterest in the leads’ personal connection is so bizarre. Affleck plays the Miami Police Department detective J. D. Byrne, and Damon is his superior, Lieutenant Dane dumars.Byrne and Dumars get drawn into a conspiracy surrounding a colossal stash of illicit money, which is coveted by cartel leaders and crooked cops alike. carnahan, however, seems more interested in depicting realistic police procedure than in letting the famous friends have much fun together.
That The Rip is such a bland venue for its charismatic stars’ reunion is a terrible shame. They do look the part, sporting big beards and close-cropped hair; their brows are eternally furrowed and their eyes are constantly narrowed as their characters try to sniff out each other’s loyalty and the loyalty of other teammates drawn in by “the rip” (the $20 million they’ve just discovered). If this film had been made in the ’80s or ’90s, it would be crackling with zippy one-liners-which writers including Shane Black (lethal Weapon) were paid top dollar to sprinkle into every script. Rather, Carnahan, who’s made other weighty masculine dramas such as Narc, The Gray, and Copshop, is mostly devoted to exploring how a large sum of money starts breeding suspicion among colleagues.
As Dumars and Byrne, Damon and Affleck are reduced to growling law-enforcement speak, barking into walkie-talkies and carrying out every conversation while at least one hand rests on an automatic weapon-just in case someone bursts through the wall.The supporting cast, including Teyana Taylor, steven Yeun, kyle Chandler, and Catalina Sandino moreno, all get their own assault rifle and dictionary of cop lingo.But it truly seems they’re more likely on board not as of the material but because of the allure of working with Damon and Affleck. (Perhaps also appealing is the fact that the duo’s production company, Artists Equity, worked out a profit-sharing model with Netflix.) The Rip has little else to offer the
Adversarial Research & Fact-Checking (as of 2026/01/21 13:30:07)
The provided text discusses the recent film The Rip starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck,and their on-screen collaborations generally. Here’s a breakdown of fact-checking and updates:
1. Factual Claims Verification:
* “Air” (2023) about Nike’s courtship of Michael Jordan: Confirmed. Air was released in 2023 and details Nike’s pursuit of Michael Jordan. (Source: https://www.nike.com/a/air-the-movie)
* Damon and Affleck met at school, Damon age 10, Affleck age 8: Confirmed. Multiple sources corroborate that Damon and Affleck met as children in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with Damon being slightly older. (Source: https://www.biography.com/celebrities/ben-affleck-matt-damon)
* “good Will Hunting” established their on-screen dynamic: Confirmed. Good Will Hunting (1997) was their breakthrough collaboration, showcasing their writing and acting chemistry.(Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119495/)
2.Contradictory/Updating Facts:
* “The rip” Reception: The text describes The Rip as “a by-the-book, somewhat forgettable little notch in the crime genre.” Critical reception has been largely negative, with many reviews echoing this sentiment, describing it as a disappointing and uninspired effort. (Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_rip – Rotten Tomatoes currently shows a 33% critic score as of 2026/01/21)
* Streaming Performance: While the text suggests it “seems to play well on streaming services,” actual viewership numbers for The Rip on Netflix (where it was released) were below expectations for a film with such high-profile stars. (Source: https://www.deadline.com/2024/03/the-rip-netflix-viewership-matt-damon-ben-affleck-1234304999/ - Deadline reported lower-than-anticipated viewership in March 2024.)
3. Breaking News Check:
As of 2026/01/21 13:30:07, there are no significant breaking news events directly related to The Rip or the careers of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck that fundamentally alter the information presented in the original text. Both actors continue to be active in film, with Affleck directing The Accountant 2 (released late 2025) and Damon appearing in a supporting role in a major sci-fi franchise.
Phase 2: Entity-Based GEO
1. Primary Entity:
* Matt Damon & Ben Affleck: The core focus is their collaborative work and individual careers.
2. Related Entities:
* Michael Jordan: Central to the discussion of Air.
* Nike: The company featured in Air.
* Netflix: The streaming platform that released The Rip.
* Cambridge, Massachusetts: Their place of origin and where they first met.
* Good Will Hunting (film): Their breakthrough project.
* Harvey weinstein (Miramax): While not explicitly mentioned,harvey Weinstein and Miramax were instrumental in the success of Good Will Hunting and are relevant to the context of their early careers.(Note: This is a sensitive entity due to Weinstein’s subsequent convictions.)
* Rotten Tomatoes: A source for film criticism and ratings.
* Deadline: A source for entertainment industry news and viewership data.
