The Gentlemen (2020)

“The Gentlemen” stars Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant.  Released on January 24, 2020, the film is about a baron who attempts to protect his profitable empire from those who want to steal it.

The film is written and directed by Guy Ritchie, who also directed films such as “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”, “Snatch”, “Sherlock Holmes”, and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”.  Well, that didn’t take us long to get another film from Ritchie.  After the massive success of the live-action remake of “Aladdin”, Guy Ritchie is returning to his usual action crime roots that made him a household name.  It’s safe for me to say that this was one of the films in January that I was interested in seeing the most because of Ritchie’s filmmaking style, the cast, and its concept.  I took one good look at the film’s trailer and I was like, “Okay, I’m interested”.  The third “Bad Boys” film delivered a satisfying good time at the movies for adult viewers like myself last weekend, so let’s see if Ritchie’s latest project can do the same.
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If you've seen some of Guy Ritchie's other films from the past, especially the ones from the crime genre, you'll know exactly what you're getting yourself into when it comes to his filmmaking skills.  It practically has everything you might expect from a Guy Ritchie film, such as the editing and his unique visual style, but are these things enough for the film to deliver a decent amount of adult entertainment?  The answer to that, my friends, is yes.  Was it a perfect action comedy?  Not really, but I was impressed with how it turned out regardless.  One thing you should know about the film is that even though it is marketed as something that is full of action and comedy, it is actually a film that's surprisingly more dialogue-driven compared to the amount of action that it represents.  If you're into those types of films, you'll be mostly satisfied with "The Gentlemen".  The plot didn't offer anything too special aside from its intrigue and complexity, and the characters themselves weren't exactly kind gentlemen like the title suggested, but the energy it provided and its ability to embrace the fun and craziness were enough to please fans of Ritchie's filmography.  Part of that energy comes from the cast and the dialogue.  Ranging from McConaughey to Farrell, the cast did their part in making the characters entertaining in their own way, and the result was as delicious as a bottle of whiskey.  The highlight of the cast has to be Hugh Grant as Fletcher, who was clearly having a great time portraying his character in terms of the dialogue and the humor.  Speaking of which, most of the dialogue was actually quite funny in my eyes, which is one of the key elements of the film's British nature, but like its characters, it won't impress everyone.  There were some jokes in the film that might come off as offensive for those who are sensitive to this type of humor, and there was that one word that was used a bit too often.  If you're not a fan of that word, this film will make you feel a bit uneasy.  If you don't mind this type of humor and just wanted some good laughs, then by all means, go give it a shot.

Overall, "The Gentlemen" doesn't act like a proper gentleman, but it does act like a proper Guy Ritchie film.  The story and the characters aren't exactly worth rooting for and the humor may not be for everyone.  However, it has enough energy and style to deliver a decent piece of adult entertainment thanks to its delightful cast, Ritchie's direction, its intriguing plot, and its humorous dialogue.  If you're a fan of Ritchie's other works, this film is worth checking out.

B-