THE HEAVY is an appalling slice of British gangster trash in a genre well known for putting out dog after dog. Most ones made a decade ago weren't this bad though, so this one must be an exception. Gary Stretch destroys any reputation he built up with DEAD MAN'S SHOES by delivering an awful performance that's all over the place as the taciturn protagonist who finds himself tasked with an impossible job and challenged by underworld figures. With awful production values, writing and direction, this is only of interest for seeing big names in small roles; why the likes of Sadie Frost, Stephen Rea and Geoff Bell decided to show up I have no idea. Vinnie Jones reprises his hardman schtick we all know well while the late, great Christopher Lee is somewhat unbelievably cast as Stretch's dad. I'm guessing the apple fell a long way from the tree here! Watch out for the awful 'bullet time' style shoot-out at the climax, so cheesy it has to be seen to be believed...
Review of The Heavy
