THIS FILM CONTAINS A NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS that make a film work for me. I can’t promise they will work for you with this movie, but here goes:

1. It has a director with a solid track record
2. It’s British–I tend to think the Brits often make great films because the director has more artistic license; the arts get some public funding so you don’t get movies managed largely for profit or by “a committee”
3. There are members of the cast I enjoy: one or two good performances can save or make a movie
4. The plot and the cinematography are compelling enough to enjoy without having to suspend disbelief unreasonably much or often

Guy Ritchie has made some very good films in this genre–which is usually UK-gangster. The good news is that they often contain humor to relieve the tension, violence, etc. This one may not have gone to the theaters (or not lasted long), but it’s on “MAX” or the old “HBO Max.”

Though his character has become a little tiresome between the Transporter films and the Fast and Furious roles, Stratham is a little like James Bond–he is not the most interesting character or the best actor in those films. But add Aubrey Plaza and Hugh Grant and–surprise!–Cary Elwes (a.k.a. the prince from Princess Bride), and you have a cast that interests me. Plaza does a good job with her role, and Elwes’ character is not a dream role, but he handles it well.

Hugh Grant, however, blew me away with his version of a billionaire Brit arms dealer. He really should get a nod of some kind for this one.

Not a great film, but the plot–which surrounds a plan to put an AI program to diabolical use–is relevant and compelling enough. The quality of the production is adequate or good.

Popcorn not a bad thing here.

WRH