[Review] The Gentlemen(2020) {7.5/10}

Written, Directed and Produced by Guy Ritchie, from a story by Ivan Atkinson, Marn Davies, and Ritchie. The film stars Matthew McConaughey (Michael 'Mickey' Pearson), Charlie Hunnam (Raymond Smith), Henry Golding ( Dry Eye), Michelle Dockery (Rosalind Pearson), Jeremy Strong (Matthew Berger), Eddie Marsan (Big Dave), Colin Farrell (Coach), and Hugh Grant (Fletcher).

The plot follows an Oxford-educated American Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) who is ready to sell his British-based cannabis empire and enjoy a happily-ever-after life with his wife. While trying to close a lucrative offer from posh British drug lord Mathew (Jeremy Strong), Mickey must fend off a motley crew of gangsters who want a piece of the action for themselves.

After a decade spent making more commercial films like Aladdin, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, and Sherlock Holmes, Ritchie returns to his core skill set: telling violent stories about thugs, criminals, fighters, and the underworld. From the very first scene The Gentlemen grabs your interest and doesn’t let go. Thanks to a string of crafty gentlemen in crisp suits who are out to get each other but not in a crass gang-bang way. Most of them are them are classy and debonair, some sly and sharp, while some young and charming. And together they ensure there’s never a dull moment. Writer-Director Guy Ritchie creates each of his characters with strong traits and a slight vulnerability that helps the audience connect with them. The Gentlemen has a clever concept, snappy dialogue, creative characters, and stupendous style. In a meta turn, it's delivered as a mystery narrated by a sleazy private investigator named Fletcher (Hugh Grant), who's turned the events into a script and peppers his "pitch" of sorts with filmmaking references. It's a whirlwind of moving parts, but the audience never gets lost in the tornado of events. The characters are all on the wrong side of the law and life, and adults can appreciate the film for what it is and see that crime doesn't pay, even when it does. Matthew McConaughey totally fits the bill as the brooding drug Mafioso, who in his own words is the “king of the jungle”. His deep baritone voice adds to the impact of his sharp dialogue delivery and smart demeanor. Same goes for his right-hand man Raymond played by British actor Charlie Hunnam. His calm and collected composure enhances his debonair good looks as he handles the most messed up situations, sometimes with straight-faced humour too. Collin Farrell is endearing as the honest boxing coach of a bunch of rowdy and misled youths. Rest of the cast is equally impressive but the man who stands tall above all with his wry wit and irreverent humour is Hugh Grant. The talented English actor has the most fun as the cheeky and blackmailing private investigator Fletcher, who narrates his findings to Ray in the form of a screenplay. The chemistry between the two British actors is clearly the high-point of the film and so are the subtle sexual innuendoes between the two that make for some trippy fun. Cool, snappy, fun and stupidly entertaining, this is evidence of a director flexing his established genre muscles and allowing himself to have a bit of fun once more.

The Gentlemen is now available on Digital and Blu-ray.