Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick features a poster that literally describes its main character and his backstory, stating “In 1980s Detroit, Rick Wershe, Jr. was a street hustler, drug kingpin and FBI informant – all before he turned 16.” With a description like that, one would expect it to be a fascinating character study, or at least a compelling crime drama. Unfortunately, the script, penned by Andy Weiss, and Logan and Noah Miller, isn’t fleshed out enough to really define Rick’s character, and can’t juggle the many plotlines and topics the film attempts to touch upon.

As stated earlier, Rick Wershe, Jr. has accomplished a lot at such a young age, both good and bad, and there’s a lot of ways this film could have gone with Wershe’s characterization, as either a Scarface-esque figure or a poor kid thrust into awful situations. The film tries to go both ways with both character ideas, as while newcomer Richie Merrit plays Rick as someone self-assured and a step ahead of everyone else, but the film also tries to dedicate time in showing how  he is a victim of poverty and parental neglect and a flawed legal system. There’s no sense of who Rick is supposed to be as a character, in turn making him generic and underwritten lead. Richie Merritt tries, but with the poor writing, he’s left with a passive character, and therefore turns in a stilted performance.

The rest of the cast is solid enough, with Matthew McConuaghey delivering an enjoyable supporting performance as Richard Wershe, Sr. as well as Bel Powley as Rick’s druggie sister Dawn. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Brian Tyree Henry also appear as the FBI agents who work with Wershe and are as great as always.

Although another downside of the script is how underdeveloped its black characters are. Rick interacts with a whole slew of black gang members, as well earning a black love interest, but the script never gives them time to share their stories, or be given much of a character or personality. Considering this is a film that’s all about the corruption of the legal system, and features black communities quite prominently, that’s a major problem. Especially once the film goes to the eventual turning point in Rick’s character as when awful things happen to these characters, there’s no real sense of sympathy or concern for these characters, making said moments feel empty. These black characters feel like they are pushed to the background in favor of a story with a lead character who Weiss and the Millers can’t find a good point on. A shame too, since plenty of talented black actors like RJ Cyler, Jonathan Majors, and YG appear in the film.

And while the film is quite impressive in terms of presentation, as Yann Demange gives the world of White Boy Rick a gritty feel, with harsh cold winters and grainy cinematography (Tat Radcliffe’s work is quite impressive), the fact of the matter is the script doesn’t give this interesting story the treatment it deserves, resulting in a rather uninteresting crime drama. While another film based on this story will probably do Wershe Jr.’s story justice, this does not work at all.