Gambit
Starring: Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz, Alan Rickman, Stanley Tucci
Rated: 6/10
The British are known for their stiff upper lip. They are also known for their brilliant sense of humour. And when that is delivered in Colin Firth style, one can only expect absolute excellence. But then Firth is known for his brilliant performance. One is not likely to forget The King’s Speech in which Firth who plays King George VI, delivered an Oscar winning performance. The intention here is not to compare the two — there is no comparison, it is about Firth and how he is able to carry this movie on his shoulders in a warm comedy that doesn’t sit perfectly in these modern-times.
Filled with a sharp delivery of dialogues, with a bit of eccentricity and nudity thrown in, Gambit is mildly amusing — not the laugh-out-loud kind but a gentle smile that comes on the face time and again. A remake from a 1966 film, with the same name, starring Michael Caine and Shirley Maclaine, this con artist action-comedy is silly yet enjoyable.
Directed by Michael Hoffman and scripted by Ethan and Joel Coen, the average heist movie has a charm that embraces pleasant nonsense. Though there is nothing new in the movie, the actors are able to carry this one forward with aplomb.
Alan Rickman as lionel Shabandar, almost everyone will recognise him as Prof Snape from the Harry Potter series, as the gazillionaire who thinks that everybody is below his stature — he is a lord — is a delight to watch. Though it appears that he may be wanting to step out of the Snape mode, the way he speaks leaves one in no doubt that it will take a lot many Gambits before he is able to achieve this.
Cameron Diaz as a Texan with a drawl to boot is her usual bubbly self. One just wished she would do roles that were not so over-the-top.
Her lack of chemistry with Firth in this one is rather low, not that it makes any difference but one likes movies where there is love in the air. Moreso, when the director hints at it at regular intervals. If one is a Colin Firth fan, this one makes for a must watch.