Lucky Break *** (2001, James Nesbitt, Bill Nighy, Timothy Spall, Christopher Plummer, Olivia Williams, Lennie James, Ron Cook, Frank Harper) – Classic Movie Review 2124

Producer-director Peter Cattaneo’s spritely and amusing 2001 British comedy Lucky Break stars James Nesbitt, Timothy Spall, Bill Nighy and Lennie James as a bunch of convicts who are locked up in a jolly sort of jail, where they agree to stage the warden Christopher Plummer’s musical show about Lord Nelson — and use the occasion to make a break for freedom.

As written by Ronan Bennett from the book by Stephen Fry, it is a pleasant, well played, old-style Britcom that warms up nicely as it goes along. It certainly helps that the musical itself is very amusing.

Unusually cast, Plummer is excellent as the governor and so is Olivia Williams as the prison psychologist, who takes a shine to Irish likely lad Nesbitt. Among the convicts, Spall and Nighy are especially good value too, just as expected of them. Nesbitt is top billed as Jimmy Hands, half way through a 12-year prison sentence for an incompetent armed robbery when he is transferred to a jail where he can stage an escape to break jail.

After a slow start, this daffy escapist comedy builds to a funny, quite appealing entertainment.

Ron Cook, Frank Harper, Raymond Waring, Julian Barrett, Peter Wright, Celia Imrie, Peter McNamara, Desmond McNamara and Andy Linden are also in the cast.

Lucky Break is billed as ‘An escapist comedy from the director of ‘The Full Monty‘.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2124

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