Product Details

• Actors: Samuel L. Jackson, Nigel Whitmey, Robert Jezek, Emily Mortimer, Meat Loaf
• Directors: Ronny Yu
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: July 1, 2003
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00007KK4Z
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,636 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #22 in	Video > Action & Adventure > Action Stars > Samuel L. Jackson
  #27 in	Video > Special Interests > Cooking & Beverages > Meat, Poultry & Seafood
  #71 in	Video > Action & Adventure > Comic Action

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Wildly entertaining but riddled with as many plot holes as bullets, Formula 51 (a.k.a. The 51st State) is a love-it-or-hate-it action comedy that plays like Tarantino on the Thames. It's a raucous hash, highlighted by the sheer pleasure of Samuel L. Jackson--in a kilt, no less--strutting his stuff among denizens of the British underworld. As freelance chemist Elmo McElroy (whose tartan attire remains glibly unexplained), Jackson is perfectly teamed with The Full Monty's Robert Carlyle in a scam involving Elmo's latest pharmaceutical concoction, which promises to yield a fortune on the rave scene. This attracts a loopy British kingpin (the outrageous Rhys Ifans), Elmo's vengeful ex-boss (Meat Loaf), a corrupt cop (Sean Pertwee), and a lovely assassin (Emily Mortimer) with a soft spot for Carlyle. They're all given generous helpings of Stel Pavlou's profanely zesty dialogue, and director Ronny Yu strikes a breezy balance between rampant hilarity and blood-splattering violence. If that's your cup of tea, Formula 51 guarantees a satisfying buzz. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this movie!, February 22, 2006

By	A. Sparks (Oklahoma, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Formula 51 (DVD)

I'll skip the plot summary, and I won't pretend to be a film critic. I'm just a regular guy, and I love this movie. Set in Liverpool, England, some of us "Yanks" might not get all of the humor. Having been to England, I got most of it. It's funny, has some good action, and the story is pretty good. Robert Carlisle is one of the best under-recognized actors in entertainment today. Sam Jackson, in a kilt...who woulda thunk it? The whole cast seems to have pretty good chemistry. If you have a couple of hours, and you're looking for a pretty good flick to pop in, get this one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Funny Movie, November 9, 2002

By A Customer

You either loved this movie or you hated it. Thats what it came down to. I thought it was really good, dont go to this movie for the action though, but its a frickin hilarious comedy. Sam Jackson proves once again that he is the coolest man in movies today. The only problem i had with this movie is the constant, constant swearing. I dont care if they swear a few times, but they must have used it every other F-ing sentence. But other than that this is a great movie. Some confusing parts but go see it anyways.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining to the last, November 17, 2004

By	Jonny Rotten "even handed critic" (Neverland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Formula 51 (DVD)

This is one of those films that you can watch once ,put down for a few weeks/months,and on a Friday,or Saturday night with nothing to do,watch again.My main complaint is the ammount of swearing throughout the film.I do believe this is one of the few films that gets placed in the Guinness Book Of World Records for using the "F" word dozens&dozens of time,and its many combinations.It has what I consider the "Hollywood Formula Screenplay" to make a "style" film.Quintin Tarantino set the pace with Resevoir Dogs,and there were many carbon coppies made after.Some good,some bad,and yes...some ugly.The soundtrack to this film,while mysteriously unavailable is great throughout the movie and set the film's pace.

All the characters are entertaining,and while a little over the top&over zealous at times,it all fits with the way the film was intended to play.The only character I did'nt care for was the "female assasin".She was unbelievable as an assasin in every way,shape&form.The guns she fired were parcticaly bigger than she was,and looks like (if in the real world) she would'nt even be able to hold up any of them to aim strait enough and hit the broadside of a barn.All in all,this movie is just fun to watch with a group of friends.Break out the beer,popcorn&whatever else you like to consume while watching a flim like this,it's a kick.