FUNNY, FUNNY FILM!!!

Rating: 9/10 (8 July 2001)

Guy Ritchie has a way of making black comedy move beyond the Pale. When you consider that the Pale was the region around Dublin where an Englishman could travel in safety, the notion takes on even more meaning. Why does this film, a portrait of Marginal people who are all screwed up some way, work? Well, there is a certain innocence to the characters which when coupled with their more malicious side creates chaos. But, hey, isn't this the usual state of affairs in the human condition? Aren't we all screwed up just a bit in some bizarre way? This is a constant theme in the films of Joel and Ethan Coen and here, we find their counterpart in the backstreets of London. But, it takes more than simply recognizing that we're all a bit goofy somewhere underneath to make a funny film and the likes of Vinny Smith, Jason Statham and the rest of the gang, combine to leave us howling for more. I know I was. Why would an old geezer like me read all 270+ reviews here before writing these words that will likely never be seen? Well, it has to do with wanting to see if others saw what I did. Most did. A few didn't. We expect that. But, the vast majority found this film to be a riot. I did. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this crazy young Scot.