Guy Ritchie’s (“Cash Grab”) “Aladdin” came out last year and had people questioning if he was past his prime. Ritchie who is known for super stylized action films returns to form with “The Gentlemen.” The difference between these two films might be the most diverse turn-around of all time. With a cast featuring Matthew McConaughey (“Between Two Ferns: The Movie”), Charlie Hunnam (“Waldo”), Colin Farrell (“Dumbo”), and Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”); expectations were very high. Their chemistry was very much on point with Grant being the standout. Ensemble films are always interesting, and when done right can provide some of the best thrills of the year. This is one of those movies where you buy popcorn and forget about the real world for a while.
What Ritchie does so well with this narrative is use his unique ability to play around with time. Sometimes the unreliable narrator trope gets annoying in film, but here it was close to perfect. It is shocking how vulgar they got with the material in the script. If you’ve seen one of the most infamous “Black Mirror” episodes, then you already know one of the plot points.
“The Gentlemen” is the result of a filmmaker having fun and allowing his creativity to roam free. In no way is this an artsy fare, but it’s not being advertised as such. Even the soundtrack is filled with catchy tunes that support the tone of the movie. Once the opening credits finished rolling, everything one needs to know about the mood is portrayed. It’s evident that Ritchie didn’t care about pandering this toward a mainstream audience due to the gruesome violence. Some moments even feel like they were taken out of a Quentin Tarantino picture.
Although Ritchie made a highly original screenplay with interweaving timelines, some of it became convoluted. There is an overwhelming amount of characters and bizarre tonal shifts. An amazing aspect toward the end was how they critiqued the entertainment industry. A tongue in cheek feeling was shown that demonstrated British humor at its finest. Michelle’s Dockery’s (“Downton Abbey”) character had an infectious spunk that made her a charismatic wonder.
The worst element of this film is that it contains some jokes that can be taken the wrong way. Another issue is that most of the protagonists have plot armor but that’s common in action flicks. Going back to Grant for a second, he is delightful in his role. He’s usually in parts that demonstrate his romantic charm, but here he becomes a sarcastic master of quips. Hunnam has one sequence that gave a new meaning to the band Roxy Music. Farrell’s screen time is brief but memorable. It’s nice to see Farrell in a role that’s not directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.
If you’re looking to see a quality film entering 2020, “The Gentlemen” is the right move. Henry Golding (“Last Christmas”) has continued his hot streak since “Crazy Rich Asians” as well. Nothing about this film screams out masterpiece, but there are more positives than negatives. Ladies and gentlemen, Guy Ritchie has returned to relevance.
Image from STX Entertainment via YouTube
