Plunkett and Macleane review

certificate_15

PLUNKETT AND MACLEANE

History is littered with villainous duos who devote themselves to a life of crime and whose wayward activities leave honest, God-fearing folk cowering in fear.

The names Little and Large, Cannon and Ball and Keith Harris and Orville spring most readily to mind. But this is England, 1748. And long before anyone thought of sticking their hand up a duck's bottom, two men decided that sticking their guns in people's faces and relieving them of cumbersome valuables was rather more fun than working for a living.

With debutant director Jake (son of Ridley) Scott making it all look like a rock promo (U2 and REM feature on his CV), Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller clearly cutting loose, and about as much concern for historical accuracy as an Adam and the Ants video, this foray into the 18th century is anything but a dull lesson from a dusty tome of yesteryear.

And when Captain James Macleane declares post-robbery that "I was fabulous and it was a bloody good laugh," you've probably got all you need to know.

Beginning in the mucky squalor of Newgate Prison, penniless aristocrat Macleane (Miller) sees a route back to the good life with mouthy thief Will Plunkett (Carlyle). Buying their way out of jail and setting up at a fancy address, their plan is simple.

Macleane jollies it up at high society parties - with Plunkett donning manservant garb - sniffing out the fattest cats, and the pair then hold up their chosen quarry on the journey home with the aid of face masks and cocked flintlocks.

And though sour-faced Thief-taker General Chance (Ken Stott) has vowed to take them, all is going well. Until, that is, Macleane becomes infatuated by feisty posh skirt Lady Rebecca (Liv Tyler) and leaves himself prey to error.

The exploits of the 'Gentlemen Highwaymen' are entrenched in popular mythology but, flipping common practice, the names in this case are just about the only things that haven't been changed to up the entertainment ante.

But who cares what the real Plunkett & Macleane got up to?

Carlyle and Miller have an excellent banter, embellished with the odd colourful metaphor of more modern persuasion, and belt through this with fiery-eyed gusto.