Runner Runner (2013) * * 1/2

Directed by:  Brad Furman

Starring:  Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck, Gemma Arterton

The plot:  A Princeton student, Richie Furst (Timberlake), going for his Masters degree loses his savings on a rigged internet poker website, causing him to travel to Costa Rica and confront the site's filthy rich owner Ivan Block (Affleck), who in turn offers Richie a job and the spoils that go along with it.   Richie unwittingly finds himself involved in a racketeering scam with the FBI hot on his trail.

Runner Runner is an adequate thriller that does things by the numbers fairly well, but never truly extends into greatness.    Perhaps it doesn't want to.    It never crackles with tension the way a strong thriller should, but there are enough entertaining moments to get your money's worth at Redbox.

After his star-making turn in The Social Network, Justin Timberlake has shown repeatedly that he has the stuff to be a good actor.    He is at-ease and has a strong screen presence.    He carries enough weight to be a hero who finds himself in very,very deep with Costa Rican mobsters, corrupt police, and his own boss-who doesn't mind breaking laws and bones to get his way.    Affleck is at first smooth and charismatic, but later is revealed to be a not-so-nice guy.    Most guys who run gambling websites and are hiding out in Costa Rica to avoid the feds usually aren't very nice.    It's a shame more isn't done with his character.    In his opening scene, he reflects on his homesickness and his desire to be free enough to watch a Steelers game at Heinz Field, but this depth isn't explored again.    He becomes the slick, rich villain with a cold heart.    I would've liked to have seen the apparent inner conflict played out.

Brad Furman, who directed the superior The Lincoln Lawyer, moves the action along as well as can be expected, but after a while I felt I was watching a remake of The Firm, with the smooth youngster trying to come out ahead when confronted by an evil employer and an FBI agent who wants to bust Block, but doesn't really care about what happens to his star witness.    Same premise, but not quite as smoothly executed.