Review: Welcome To The Punch

 Review: Welcome To The Punch

Director: Eran Creevy

Starring: James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Peter Mullan, David Morrissey, Andrea Riseborough  

Welcome To The Punch is a stylish, glossy british crime thriller that gets caught up in its American aspirations at the cost of plot and character development. The film sees detective Max Lewinsky (James McAvoy) presented with a chance to convict his long time enemy Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) after Sternwood's son gets caught up in a world of drugs and organised crime. The basic premise works well, but quickly descends into a mess as layers are added and an unnecessarily large number of characters are introduced. The audience are left confused and uncaring, having not been allowed enough time to empathise with any of the characters or to orient themselves with the narrative.

The film is not without merit. Clearly inspired by American crime thrillers the film is a mass with scenery porn. The audience are treated to sweeping ariel shots of London's magnificent skyline at night, along with well shot action sequences. Director Eran Creevy puzzlingly tries to depict London as dark and gritty by adding blue filter to every shot, yet leaving the streets themselves oddly empty and clean. Whilst this provides a feast for the eyes, it serves to further baffle the audience as they must reconcile this glossy London with the city riddled with gun crime and corruption presented to them in the plot. 

There is also fun to be had with the cast. The result of having an excessive number of characters is that it provides lots of jobs for actors and one could play British characters actor bingo whilst watching the picture. McAvoy and Strong are joined by Andrea Riseborough, David Morrissey, Ruth Sheen, Peter Mullen, Johnny Harris and Daniel Mays to name just a few. One is just about ready to applaud when Steve Oram appears as a pesky journalist for just one scene. Everyone here is having a great time, sticking their teeth into the grizzly drama and action. These performances are what makes the film watchable, providing a level of camp that prevents it from heading into Nick Love territory. 

Welcome To The Punch is a fun ride if you turn of your brain and embrace the silliness. As a serious crime thriller it's not great, but there are much worse things out there. 

2.5/5