Lucky Break (2001)

From director Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty), this is a pretty good prison break-out comedy with an all-star cast. James 'Jimmy' Hands (James Nesbitt) is halfway through a 12-year sentence for an attempted armed robbery, and he gets a lucky break, he's transferred to a prison seemingly easier to escape from. He convinces Governor Graham Mortimer (The Sound of Music's Christopher Plummer) to stage a musical based on the life of Nelson in the old chapel, next to one outer wall. Rounding up volunteer actors and production members, including Cliff Gumbell (Timothy Spall), Roger 'Rog' Chamberlain (Bill Nighy) and ex-robbery partner Rudy 'Rud' Guscott (Snatch's Lennie James), and the leading lady played by new love interest Annabel Sweep (Olivia Williams), his plan seems to be going well. So, after the arrival of nasty inmate John Toombes (Frank Harper), and the death of Cliff, it comes to the night of the musical, and Jimmy plans his "break-out performance", along with a couple of the other players, but in the end, Jimmy decides to stay for Annabel, while the others get away with it, and Jimmy is released in the end anyway. Also starring Ron Cook as Mr. Perry the Guard, Julian Barratt as Paul Dean and Celia Imrie as Amy Chamberlin. The jokes are very light, but the performances are all good, and the story has its moments, it's certainly worth a go. Good!

This film was just released on video and I was glad to see it, since it had come and gone thru the cinemas rather quickly.If you are looking for a breezy, lighthearted comedy in the style of the Full Monty (i.e. quirky, amusing British characters) then this is the film for you. It is not a film that will have you rolling on the floor but then I don't believe every comedy has to be that. Just to smile and chuckle at the plot is enough for me. I found the best laughs came from the musical NELSON and the clever song lyrics (which were penned by Stephen Fry).I thought James Nesbitt made a wonderful lead and was just as appealing here as in Cold Feet. The romance between him and Olivia Williams was entirely believable - especially as he was such a petty criminal. And the end credits were quite heartwarming and thoroughly satisfying.If you liked Full Monty and Waking Ned, then you'll love this film - a quirky character film as only the British can do.

Hard to believe that this is from the team that brought us 'The Full Monty', it is embarrassing to think that this may be seen outside of England. Monotonously paced, it never gets out of first gear and there is scarcely a funny line during the entire film, let alone an original one.

....and for one reason only, it didn't do what every single brit com, has done this year, in fact every one since i can remember has done. Whats that you ask? SHOWN EVERY SINGLE FUNNY BIT IN THE TRAILER. ok so the yanks do it a hell of a lot too but we British seem very guilty of it. anyway i've got that off my chest now so i'll continue. I went into this film with fairly low expectations, coz there were few funny bits in the trailer so i figured thats all it has to offer, and i came out with that warmish glow inside, you know that one you get when you've seen a really 'nice' film.Yes this film is nice, its one of those that makes you go awwwww, especially if you stay right to the very end of the credits, and once you have finished laughing James Nesbit's wig you'll realize this. Cattaneo has but together a superb supporting cast especially in Tim Spall and Christopher Plummer who both do superb turns. Go and see this film if you just want to see something you'll come out feeling nice after