Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Directed by: Guy Ritchie

RS: Not Rated

1998 Comedy

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a dynamite bundle from British writer-director Guy Ritchie. Even when the accents are as indecipherable as the plot, Ritchie keeps the action percolating and the humor on high. In London's grubby East End, Eddie (Nick Moran) is staked to a card game by his mates Bacon (Jason Statham), Tom (Jason Flemyng) and Soap (Dexter Fletcher). Then Eddie loses to Hatchet Harry (P.H. Moriarty), a porn king who puts a lien on the bar run by Eddie's dad, J.D. (Sting, in a quirky cameo). Eddie's plan to save the day involves the theft of two antique guns. But Harry's bagman, Big Chris (soccer star Vinnie Jones is one scary dude), intervenes. Confused? So what. It's the spirit that keeps this wild thing smoking.

PETER TRAVERS