Three and Out

2008

Three and Out

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

17%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 6

40%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,841
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Three and Out Photos

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Movie Info

Death gives two men a new lease on life in this dark comedy from the UK. Paul Callow (Mackenzie Crook) makes his living driving a subway train in London, though he'd like nothing more than to be able to quit his job, move to Scotland and devote his time to writing a novel. Paul isn't an especially cheerful guy under the best of circumstances, but he's been on edge since two people slipped off a platform and fell onto the tracks before he could stop his train. A fellow driver tells Paul that the London Underground rail system has a secret policy called "three and out," in which if a driver is responsible for three fatalities within a month, they'll be let go with a golden handshake equal to a decade's salary. Shocked but sensing an opportunity, Paul looks for someone wanting to kill themselves, and finds Tommy Cassidy (Colm Meaney), who Paul prevents from jumping off a bridge in a suicide attempt. Paul makes Tommy an offer -- if he'll throw himself under Paul's train, Paul will give him enough money to enjoy one last night on the town and still have enough to leave a nest egg for his family. Tommy agrees, and Paul takes him to Liverpool for a wild weekend, where they revel in the joys of petty crime and Paul attempts to romance Tommy's teenage daughter Frankie (Gemma Arterton) and his former wife Rosemary (Imelda Staunton). But what if Tommy enjoys himself enough that he doesn't feel like dying at Paul's behest on Monday? ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Cast

MacKenzie Crook
as Paul Callow
Colm Meaney
as Tommy Cassidy
Gemma Arterton
as Frankie
Imelda Staunton
as Rosemary Cassidy
Antony Sher
as Maurice
Kerry Katona
as Mary
Gary Lewis
as Callaghan
Annette Badland
as Maureen
Mark Benton
as Vic
Rhashan Stone
as Ash
Sharon Duncan-Brewster
as Yvonne
Frank Dunne
as Danny
Steve Money
as 'Muscles'
Rob Witcomb
as Gary
Dean Lennox Kelly
as Policeman
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News & Interviews for Three and Out

RT Interview: Colm Meaney on Three and Out, Life on Mars and life after Trek
Exclusive: RT Visits the Set of Three and Out
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Critic Reviews for Three and Out

All Critics (6) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (5)

  • The mystery is why some of Britain's finest character actors including Crook, Meaney, Antony Sher and Imelda Staunton got caught up in this mess.

    Jan 11, 2018 | Full Review…

    Liz Hoggard

    London Evening Standard
    Top Critic

  • Rare winning moments aside, Three and Out is unconvincing, uneven and unfunny: a severe points failure.

    Apr 25, 2008 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Trout

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

  • Too gauche, too derivative and merely sporadically amusing.

    Apr 25, 2008 | Rating: 2/6 | Full Review…

    Wally Hammond

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • There's no light at the end of the tunnel in this misguided romp whose solitary redeeming feature is its quality cast.

    Apr 25, 2008 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Neil Smith

    Film4

  • Ostensibly a black comedy, this Brit road movie engages most in its more reflective moments, focusing on characters' feelings of guilt, anger, sadness and regret.

    Apr 21, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Tom Dawson

    Total Film

  • Interesting, but messy.

    Apr 21, 2008 | Rating: 2/5

    Anna Smith

    Empire Magazine
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Audience Reviews for Three and Out

  • Aug 04, 2009
    at first i didnt thinkit was up to much and thought it was going to be pretty simple and not up to much but the more i watched it and the more i got into it the better it becamse the acting wasnt the best ive ever seen and the story wasnt up to much either but it was pretty original and in the end it was kinda good i would deffinetly see it again
    Lone W Super Reviewer
  • Jun 16, 2009
    Decent comedy drama with Mackenzie Crook as a man who, already bored with his job as a London tube driver, becomes even more depressed when two people throw themselves under his train in as many weeks. But later our man finds out if he hits three people iin a month he gets early retirement and 10 years salary. Spurred on by this he attempts to find a third victim/accident so he can finish his job, claim the ten years salary and move to his dream house, in the middle of nowhere in Scotland, and get on with his dream job as a writer. This is a well written, effective comedy drama with good performances from Crook, Colm Meaney, Imelda Staunton and the lovely Gemman Arterton.
    Adam M Super Reviewer
  • Apr 29, 2008
    nice britcome, concerning a young lad, who after runs down 2 people with his train learns that a 3rd will get him payed off, so off he goes to find a 3rd, crooke is ok in this but unsimpathetic, but coln murrey as the guy he find is great and commands the film, some good moments throughout
    scott g Super Reviewer
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