By Mike Davies, What's On
Starring: Neil Morrissey, Adrian Dunbar, Donnie Wahlberg.
Dir: John Bradshaw

The Story: Andy (Neil Morrissey) and Pete (Adrian Dunbar) are a pair of small time broke English conmen stuck in Chicago.

So when Andy lifts a suitcase and finds an envelope stuffed with cash and a swanky hotel room key with unlimited room service, they naturally reckon their luck's in.

And when he susses that the dosh is payment for a hit, he persuades Pete they can probably get their hands on a lot more by pretending they're the hitmen before hightailing it back home.

Meanwhile, the real triggermen, Tommy (Michael Rapaport) and Terry (Donnie Wahlberg), are wondering what's happened to the money, their employer's convinced the Brits are the real deal even if his psycho henchman isn't, Pete's girlfriend Penny (Amanda Plummer) is giving him grief for not coming home and Terry's fallen for Emma (Claire Forlani), unaware she's the daughter of their target, retiring mob boss Ben Cutler (Pete Postlethwaite).

The Verdict: While hard to ignore such things as the crap dialogue, Postlethwaite's total lack of American accent, and the glaringly different acting styles of the Americans and Brits, there's enough silly business to make its comedy of errors passably amusing plus one unexpected shock cold blooded moment.

And, though hard to credit from Bob the Builder and a man whose CV includes such masterpieces as The Wedding Tackle, Morrissey and Dunbar are easily the most entertaining thing here.

Half-cocked but fun

Released: Friday 26 December 2003

Originally appeared at: ICCoventry