Wick's Review

Summary - Good 3.0

No wonder Madonna divorced Guy Ritchie, a bloke who makes the most ungentlemanly movies possible. The Gentlemen more than proves the point. A Toxic Masculinity Opera, it’s full of dicks calling each other c*nts, when they’re not proffering racial putdowns. Methinks they try too hard. Compensating much?

Mark this down as lesser Ritchie, classic Ritchie though it may be. While of a piece with his rousing Sherlock Holmes and the visceral yet comedic violence of his Snatch, its reach well exceeds its grasp.

Part of the problem is a rare Matthew McConaughey misfire, his weirdly cool insouciance insufficient for an evil kingpin role. Christopher Walken he’s not. Ritchie surrounds him with other stars overacting, Hugh Grant most of all. A cool Charlie Hunnam & a foxy Michelle Dockery help, but can’t save the rancid stew.

Acting - Good 3.0

• Charlie Hunnam is onscreen most among the ensemble, good thing but not enough of a good thing.
• Matthew McConaughey fails as an evil kingpin, as noted above.
• Michelle Dockery classes up the production as McConaughey’s cooly gorgeous wife.
• Hugh Grant plays assertively fey, which would be fine if he wasn’t dining on scenery.
• Henry Golding has the unenviable role of asian stereotype.
• Eddie Marsan is a great character actor in a one-note role
• Colin Farrell scores as an underworld boxing coach.

Film - Good 3.0

Guy Ritchie is too good at his brand of showy-stagy testosterone operas. He should dial it back next time.

Edge - Sordid 3.3

The nasty bon-mots grow tiresome, especially the repetitive use of the c-word, and I’m a dude. Women, stand clear.

Reality - Surreal 2.6

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