A British drug lord tries to sell off his highly profitable empire to a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires.
Guy Ritchie returns to the streets with “The Gentlemen” after a bit of time away from his pieces which were populated with silver-tongued gangsters. The action-comedy is reminiscent of “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” but this time it is modern eye candy headed by an all-star cast with Matthew McConaughey being the big boss who is surrounded by the likes of Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, Colin Farrell, and Michelle Dockery.
“The Gentlemen” is an escape for the 51-year-old director. It allows Ritchie to journey back to the fictitious Britain that he has claimed as his stomping ground, his turf if you will. This world is one where the elites and the high class trade their wealth and their power with the grime and wit of the streets. This live-action cartoon of sorts is far from off-brand but also far from being void of drama even though audiences may struggle to find it in parts of the film. “The Gentlemen” is like a pint of ice cream near midnight, a guilty pleasure that one should enjoy quickly and without prying eyes watching as you finish it with a smile.
The film, although populated with heavy hitters, would fare much worse if not held up by Hugh Grant who plays a vile and sleazy yet loveable character named Fletcher. Fletcher looks like Tom Cruise if the actor had grown out a thick goatee, adopted a pair of thick-rimmed glasses and hoped his love for being a snake could make him rich.
Fletcher has a dialog that lasts the length of the film with the right hand of Mickey Pearson, Raymond (Hunnam) as the two square off in comedic fashion while discussing the rise of Raymond’s boss (McConaughey). Once the stage is set on how Pearson went from a young wide-eyed hopeful into a versed and well-connected heavy hitter, Fletcher and Raymond duel, comedically, with the events of what happened after Pearson makes an offer to an interested buyer for his marijuana empire.
That deal is put to the test as the young firecracker of a rival gang explodes onto the scene and challenges Pearson and threatens his entire operation and his future. Not only that but Mickey has also made enemies in the press as tabloid hotshot Big Dave (Eddie Marsan) wants Mickey’s head on a platter and he employs, wait for it, Fletcher to do the digging in order to make that happen. This leads us back to Fletcher and his love for trickery, bribery, and blackmail. All three of which he plays against Raymond in hopes of receiving a fortune in exchange for damaging information.
This film is one hell of a ride and is shallow to the point where real criticism will fall on deaf ears. It isn’t meant to be serious. “The Gentlemen” is meant to be a hilariously entertaining piece and it does so beautifully. It can be a little off-color at times and seems disconnected and far-fetched but it is a joy to watch nonetheless.
In Theaters Friday, January 24th
