“WHAT will they do? Call the police and say ‘Help, I spent $5,000 at a strip club?.”

That’s both the premise and possibly the funniest line in the 2019 comedy/drama Hustlers.

Inspired by a New York Magazine article, it’s the true story of a bunch of exotic dancers who steal from their rich, business clients.

The best script builds empathy within the audience for one or more characters, but in this case I cared very little for anyone.

Hustlers is a generally weaker version of The Wolf of Wall Street that struggles to generate the same level of humour that helped progress that film to push through general indifference to the plight of its unlikable characters.

The best thing about Hustlers is the two main performances from Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu, both giving their all to deliver well-rounded, natural depictions of people who ended up in extraordinary circumstances, albeit of their own making.

In Lopez’ case, the formidable ring-leader and veteran stripper Ramona is her best character in a long time, maybe even since Out of Sight two decades ago.

Wu was one of the only good things about Crazy Rich Asians and as she produces the most depth here as newcomer and fast-learner Destiny.

Unfortunately, director and writer Lorene Scafaria is content to let every other character remain barely sketched caricatures of dumb strippers, incompetent drug addicts or abusive, drunken businessmen.

The film follows the shifting fortunes of Ramona and Destiny from their first meeting in 2007, through the sting operations they execute against unsuspecting clients, through the Global Financial Crisis that causes even more desperate circumstances and ending in 2015 when their crimes eventually catch up with them.

There are some humorous moments, mainly involving Wu, the pace of the film is good and there is style and authenticity in the locations, production design and costuming.

But too many times the situations seem not just familiar from several other films but staged and unrealistic, despite being based on real events. There is also an interminable piano piece that distracts during certain important scenes.

Hustlers is worth seeing for Lopez and Wu, but I wouldn’t be in a rush.