Review of Plunkett & Macleane (1999) by Keenan S — 11 Nov 2014

This is one of those films that I had never even heard about until I just so happened to come across in a box of VHS tapes being sold. I read the premise and decided to buy it and then forgot to watch it for a year. So, after forgetting to watch it for so long, I finally watched it when I saw it among the many VHS tapes (Yes, I still watch films in VHS format). While it will never be among the best adventure films I've ever seen, Plunkett & Macleane is still a hell of a lot of fun to watch.

While James Macleane is locked away in a debtor's prison, something extraordinary happens when he is broken out of his cell during a stagecoach robbery by a man named Will Plunkett and his partner in crime.

In the process of the heist, Plunkett's partner is shot by soldiers who have arrived on the scene shortly after swallowing a ruby. Plunkett fleas, and the man is left behind to face the wrath of General Chance, who proceeds to kill the man by gouging out his eye when he refuses to give information about Plunkett.

After witnessing the horrible murder and since his cell had a large hole in the wall, Macleane flees the debtor's prison and finds the burial site of Plunkett's dead partner to steal the ruby he had swallowed to pay back his debt. Plunkett shows up, however, and makes Macleane cut open the dead man and retrieve the item, which Plunkett then swallows.

The two men are captured by Chance's men and taken to prison. It's there, where Plunkett convinces Macleane to help him escape and the two then begin a friendship and a new life of crime as they begin stealing from the rich through highway robberies or elaborate heists.

But, when Macleane falls in love with a woman the two men robbed named Lady Rebecca, things threaten to take a turn for the worst, especially with Rebecca's family connections to politicians that want them dead. The two men must also contend with Macleane's lavish spending and gambling problems which also threaten to unravel their schemes.

The story, while familiar, is still a very fun heist story with an infectiously entertaining duo in the leads. The story still manages to be filled with action, romance, dirty jokes, foul language, and some politics thrown in for good measure - and all of it is fun and engaging to follow.

As for acting, Robert Carlyle is great as Plunkett, Johnny Lee Miller does a great job as the suave ladies man, Macleane, while Liv Tyler does a great job as the love interest, Rebecca. The acting across the board is pretty good, even when the other actors can be over the top. The acting is always entertaining and never dull for one moment, which is very important with all the bizarre characters found in this film.

This film will delight just about any adventure fan since it comes with plenty of action, plenty of heists, romance, dirty jokes, and some sexual content thrown in for good measure, complete with interesting characters who can be outrageous when they want to be. It might feel out of place for a film set in 1748, but who cares when it's this much fun?

It won't win any awards, but Plunkett & Macleane is a very entertaining film that gives the viewer plenty of popcorn-munching entertainment. If you enjoy adventure films, you might find a lot to like here.