Movie Review: The Gentlemen - #TheGentlemen

The Gentlemen
Genre: ​Action | Comedy
Cast: ​Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, with Colin Farrell and Hugh Grant
Director: ​Guy Ritchie
Screenplay by: ​Guy Ritchie
Story by: ​Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson & Marn Davies
Producers: ​Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson, Bill Block
Release Date: ​January 24, 2020

From writer/director Guy Ritchie comes ​THE GENTLEMEN​, a star-studded sophisticated action comedy. ​THE GENTLEMEN​ follows American expat Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) who built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he’s looking to cash out of the business forever it triggers plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him (featuring an all-star ensemble cast including Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant).

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Good news! There is a new Guy Ritchie movie out right now.  It’s called The Gentlemen.  Better news?  If you like Guy Ritchie’s gangster movies, you’re going to enjoy this one, too. Not so good news? This Guy Ritchie movie is the same gangster formula that you have seen in flicks like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or Snatch.

Still, The Gentlemen is not a bad movie. Guy Ritchie’s formula has been tested and it still delivers.  The characters were quirky and charming.  The cast was stellar.  Matthew McConaghey (as Michael), Charlie Hunnam (as Ray), Henry Golding (as Dry Eye), Michelle Dockery (as Rosalind), Colin Farrell (as Coach) and Jeremy Strong (as Matthew) were all in top form.  Their work was completely believable and engrossing to watch.   As entertaining as the aforementioned cast was to watch, Hugh Grant (as Fletcher) took the prize.  His narration and performance wove the story together well  and kept the pace moving.

The heist was entertaining. The “American ex-patriot running a successful marijuana operation in London while fighting off a coup at the twilight of his career” story felt grown-up.  This isn’t your kids’ hot rod racing, action flick.   This felt more pensive. It felt timely, especially for its marijuana references. Rosalind’s “female luxury cars operation” plot points were also timely.  Loved that she was a boss in her own right, separate from her cartel boss husband.  Even found Flether’s “novice screen writer” story funny.  

The Gentlemen worked in the way that things work only in Guy Ritchie movies.   There were a ton of twists, turns, and expletives. The movie had backstabbing, dead bodies, and  assorted crimes galore. It is a great film for fans of Guy Ritchie’s work, and anyone out for a lot of fun. 

Above all else, The Gentlemen is great escapism.  Guy Ritchie has his own movie-making mold and his latest adheres to it perfectly.  It might be a formula, but it’s a formula that works.  This isn’t family fare.  The young ones should avert their eyes and ears, but adults will find it entertaining.  The Gentlemen is playing in theaters now.