Big stars, tons of action, and glorious clothes, what more does one need to warm their moviegoing heart this January? Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen, much like the alcohol and drugs the men consume, is something of an acquired taste, but more than makes up for any issues it might have with such a winning combination.
The Gentlemen tells the story of a weed kingpin (Matthew McConaughey) who is thinking of getting out of the game to spend more time with his wife (Michelle Dockery). Working alongside his trusted number 2 (Charlie Hunnam), he attempts to strike a deal with another big money expat (Jeremy Strong). However, other interested parties begin trying to move in and before long a full blown turf war begins. And this craziness doesn’t even include the boxing coach and his students who somehow play a crucial part in the story.
What is perhaps so fascinating about this film is that the movie is how it references and folds in on itself. Hugh Grant’s character is so smarmy and smug that placing the audience in his view of the story is a really clever bit of storytelling. Ritchie uses the odd couple pairing of Grant and Hunnam to great effect as the story keeps growing and more information comes in. At the end of the screening, I remarked to fellow critic Aaron Neuwirth that The Gentlemen reminded me of Martin McDonaugh’s Seven Psychopaths. While that film is a bit sharper and nastier, the glossiness of this might make it the more entertaining film.
Where The Gentlemen falls short is that it takes a good long while to settle you into the story. There’s so much immediately competing for story attention from hammy acting to a potential twist to some casual sexism and homophobia, that the movie almost can’t get out of first gear. Luckily for Ritchie, his cast knew exactly what the movie needed and when. Of the many lovely and varied performances, Charlie Hunnam and Colin Farrell’s stood out as the giants among men. Both men got parts that required some strong character work to both diminish and accentuate their natural talents/skillsets and it was quite the thrill to see them work.
If this is what Guy Ritchie wants to continue to do now that he has made Disney a billion dollars than I am more than willing to follow along. Particularly if the movies are this amazingly costumed, well acted, and chock full of entertainment.