Formula 51 (2002)

Wildly entertaining but riddled with as many plot holes as bullets, Formula 51 (a.k.a. The 51st State) is a love-it-or-hate-it action comedy that plays like Tarantino on the Thames. It's a raucous hash, highlighted by the sheer pleasure of Samuel L. Jackson--in a kilt, no less--strutting his stuff among denizens of the British underworld. As freelance chemist Elmo McElroy (whose tartan attire remains glibly unexplained), Jackson is perfectly teamed with The Full Monty's Robert Carlyle in a scam involving Elmo's latest pharmaceutical concoction, which promises to yield a fortune on the rave scene. This attracts a loopy British kingpin (the outrageous Rhys Ifans), Elmo's vengeful ex-boss (Meat Loaf), a corrupt cop (Sean Pertwee), and a lovely assassin (Emily Mortimer) with a soft spot for Carlyle. They're all given generous helpings of Stel Pavlou's profanely zesty dialogue, and director Ronny Yu strikes a breezy balance between rampant hilarity and blood-splattering violence. If that's your cup of tea, Formula 51 guarantees a satisfying buzz. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

[3.5 stars]-Samuel L. Jackson in a Kilt!.....now that's funny

This film is all about style, humor and pace and not about character or plotting. In this regard it is an enjoyable ride, albeit a silly and energetic one. The hyper directing from Yu really suits this and he does well even if he is not really very original in regards his shots etc. The editing fits with the formula set by Ritchie and is pretty much what you expect. What makes the film stand out from the rest of the copies is that it actually is quite good fun to watch (as opposed to some copies that are just cheap and nasty) - never hilarious but it is energetic enough to pull you along with it no matter how silly it gets. Of course it has weak points - a few characters are too daft and, whenever the overall plot is the main focus then it struggles.

Despite this the cast do well to keep things moving and they play a massive part in making this work. Jackson may not be doing anything new or wonderful here but he is key to the film working and he is worth every penny they must have paid him. He has great presence and he brings a lot of fun and energy to the film in a way that his lesser co-stars cannot. Carlyle is a good actor but he pales in comparison to Jackson in this - he isn't helped by the awful accent he is lumbered with and the fact that he is a little irritating. Mortimer is annoying as her character is just daft in the context of the plot, but not as annoying as Meatloaf who is easily the worst thing in the film. The support cast includes reasonable turns from Pertwee, Ifans, Tomlinson and Barber but this is Jackson's film 100% and it is difficult to imagine it being as enjoyable without him.

`Formula 51' a.ka.'51 States' moves fast, slick, and clearly had a bit of cash thrown at it and, apart from a handful of stupidly silly moments, is actually quite fun to watch - even if it is almost instantly forgettable. The cast includes quite a few well-known faces but it is the great presence of Jackson (who looks like he is enjoying himself in an undemanding role) that makes this worth seeing. If you are a fan of Snatch and Lock Stocking, you will definitely recognize the ingredients of this movie.
August 15, 2006

I actually love it

didn't think it would be anything really not Sammy best bet hey i love his sence of humor in movies always funny.... May 24, 2006

A Matter of Taste

This will appeal the most to people that like the unusual gang movies like "Get Shorty", "The Usual Suspects", "Snatch", "Weekend at Bernies" and "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels". It has a nice story twist at the end, great acting, good action, unusual dark comedy, and much more. I can't sit through two hours of just bloody gang movies, I can if they have some comedy. This one definitely has a nice comedy touch with a good ending. The irony is when a pharmacist is busted for smoking marijuana right after he graduates college and it ruins his chance to go legitimate, he takes the pharmaceutical version of illegal drugs to a new level. A must see for people that enjoy the movies I mentioned before. May 2, 2006

Enjoyable, but don't expect too much

This film does take a lot from Guy Ritchie's style, but it's not exactly the same. It also reminds me of "True Romance". I think this movie also goes a little bit more towards "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". The basic story is the staging of a drugdeal for the formula of a superdrug. This keeps going wrong due to all the schemes the main characters are involved in. I found this an amusing film. Don't expect anything truly original, but there certainly are memorable performances and characters. If you like something that's a bit off the wall with a lot of action go see his. Don't expect it to be the next great thing though. March 5, 2006

I love this movie!

I'll skip the plot summary, and I won't pretend to be a film critic. I'm just a regular guy, and I love this movie. Set in Liverpool, England, some of us "Yanks" might not get all of the humor. Having been to England, I got most of it. It's funny, has some good action, and the story is pretty good. Robert Carlisle is one of the best under-recognized actors in entertainment today. Sam Jackson, in a kilt...who woulda thunk it? The whole cast seems to have pretty good chemistry. If you have a couple of hours, and you're looking for a pretty good flick to pop in, get this one. February 23, 2006

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