Lucky Break (2002)
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Theatrical Release: Apr 5, 2002 Limited
Synopsis: When a bank robbery goes bad, would-be robbers Jimmy (James Nesbitt) and his pal Rudy (Lennie James) find themselves in prison. The prison's warden (Christopher Plummer) just happens to be an amateur playwright who has just finished "Nelson--the Musical," a production based on the life of... When a bank robbery goes bad, would-be robbers Jimmy (James Nesbitt) and his pal Rudy (Lennie James) find themselves in prison. The prison's warden (Christopher Plummer) just happens to be an amateur playwright who has just finished "Nelson--the Musical," a production based on the life of Admiral Nelson. Jimmy and Rudy agree to star in an all-inmate staging of the play after they learn that it is to take place in the prison chapel--a place where they believe they can make a breakout to the outside world. Along the way, Jimmy also begins to fall for the in-house anger-management counselor (Olivia Williams). Mike Leigh regular Timothy Spall also stars in this comedy from the director of THE FULL MONTY. [More]
Genre: Comedies
Starring: James Nesbitt, Christopher Plummer, Timothy Spall, Olivia Williams, Frank Harper
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Reviews
If you adored The Full Monty so resoundingly that you’re dying to see the same old thing in a tired old setting, then this should keep you reasonably entertained.
Overall, it's good, not great. This is a pleasant enough but small English romantic comedy.
The end result is like cold porridge with only the odd enjoyably chewy lump.
The formulaic script, stocked with not one truly menacing inmate, echoes far too many sentimental post-Full Monty imports.
A prison comedy that never really busts out of its comfy little cell.


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