Plunkett & MacLeane

CinemaSerf 6/1/2022 8:49:08AM 8.4

This is quite a fun take on a sort of "Robin Hood" meets "Dick Turpin" theme. The eponymous two gents - Robert Carlyle: already a thriving member of the criminal fraternity and Jonny Lee Miller: a gent somewhat down at heel - are fed up with the status quo in 18th century England, so decide to do a bit of wealth redistribution for themselves. To that end, they set about robbing the nobility as they travel the dark country roads. It is upon one such raid that they detain none other than the Lord Chief Justice (Sir Michael Gambon) and his charming daughter "Lady Rebecca" (Liv Tyler) to whom JLM takes a shine. Unfortunately for him, Ken Stott's "Chance" - a bit of an enforcer for her father also has designs in that direction - and soon their simple life of robbing and boozing is compromised by his infatuation/love... Carlyle never did repeat his performance in "Trainspotting" (1996) for me, ever since he has delivered some pretty undercooked efforts, and here is no different. Miller is on quite good form though, Tyler plays her part with gusto and there are a few engaging cameos from the suitably powdered-up Alan Cumming ("Lord Rochester") that sit atop a supporting cast of hit and miss British comedy talent that many will have seen on television over the years. That comedy, it has to be said, is a bit on the bawdy side - and it is not always very funny; but generally speaking there is enough chemistry and pace on the screen to keep this at the fair-to-middling end of the entertainment scale. The costumes look good, the music is quirky - not always of the period, and it's just about worth 100 minutes of your time. Not that you will recall much about it a day or two afterwards.