Welcome To The Punch

welcomeFinally. Welcome To The Punch is a UK crime film that makes London look good. No Mockerney Guy Ritchie flea pit crack dens here, oh no. This London is all chrome and steel and glass skyscrapers gleaming menacingly at night. We like.

Welcome To The Punch has an unnecessarily complicated plot. Actually it probably isn’t that complicated but The Sloth is rubbish at plots, utterly hopeless. All you basically need to know is James McAvoy plays a copper of the Flying Squad type, far too cool and maverick to wear a uniform, who is peeved because years ago baddie Mark Strong (who we know is REALLY BAD as he exercises bare chested in the snow and has huge tattoos across his shoulder blades) got away from him in a robbery and left James with a sore knee, poor lamb. So James wants revenge. Grrr.

The Sloth isn’t generally a fan of James McAvoy in action roles. Richard Hammond playing dress up always pops into our heads. But he just about acquits himself here. And the rest of the cast launch into their snarly villain / bent copper / comedy grandma roles with pantomime aplomb.

It’s not reinventing the crime thriller wheel, but it’s all shot with enough panache, pace and touches of humour that you don’t really care. And when London looks this shiny and cool, just sit back and enjoy the view.

UK release 15 March

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