Review of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) by Anthony M — 05 May 2010

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrls is Guy Richies British gangster black comedy that plays out more like a spoof than a serious gangster film. However, it is a good, solid fun film. Its enjoyable and quite funny.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels focuses mainly around 4 friends who put in £25,000 into a pot so their friend Eddie can enter a card tornament ran by the prestigous Harry The Hatchet. When Harry cheats and Eddie looses, they are in debt to Harry and have to get £500,000 to him by the end of the week and hilarious and violent events ensue.

While Two Smoking Barrels is meant as a gangster film and undeniably it is, it isn't serious like many of the American gangster films and doesn't take itself seriously either. Its harsh black comedy is promient through-out and with its original and interesting, complicated story arc it really is whats forcing this film along because its definitely no the performances.

The acting is a little bit below average in this film and its most probably down to very poor casting. I thought Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham were reasonably good as far as it could probably go with these actors but thats most probably why you see them in these non-serious films, playing the same role again and again.

The plot is simple but its Guy Ritchie has created a some brilliant situations that all use Eddies loss at the cards match as its catalyst. Backed up with a killer soundtrack and witty British dialogue makes this film fun, funny and hilariously violent.

It seems that Richie is trying to be a British Tarantino but every film he makes just can't live upto Taratino's high-standards of creating funny and engaging crime flicks. Still, this is an entertaining film and one I'll probably put in my top 100. I definitely recommend you all check it out.