'The Gentlemen' Review: Guy Ritchie skillfully balances crime and comedy in his Netflix series
HALSTEAD, ENGLAND: Not all adaptations of critically acclaimed movies into TV series guarantee an enjoyable experience. A good recent example is Prime Video's 'Mr and Mrs Smith', which turned out to be a major letdown despite borrowing the name and theme from the 2005 hit film.
This year, we also witnessed the cult film 'Sexy Beast' (2000) receiving a prequel that garnered mixed reactions.
So, when the spin-off of Guy Ritchie's 2019 film 'The Gentlemen' hit the scene, skepticism lingered. Fortunately, this has emerged as a well-crafted TV series within the crime genre.
'The Gentlemen' on Netflix stands independently from its film counterpart, introducing a fresh cast of characters while maintaining the criminal underworld concept from Ritchie's movie.
The series crafts its own identity with charming leads, wild antagonists, tender family dynamics, a brisk pace, and action-packed sequences.
Familiar plot approached with a renewed freshness in 'The Gentlemen'
The Netflix series follows the story of British Army Captain Edward "Eddie" Horniman, portrayed by Theo James who finds himself in an unexpected role as the heir to his father's title and vast estate.
The death of his father, Archibald Horatio Landrover Horniman, the Twelfth Duke of Halstead, sets off a chain of events that takes Eddie into the shadowy world of illegal dealings hidden beneath the aristocratic facade.
Eddie's inheritance comes with a catch - a pre-existing agreement with the Glass family to house a marijuana facility beneath the estate. The series unfolds with shootouts, betrayals, and unexpected alliances but Eddie doesn't aspire to become a weed businessman.
However, in order to get out of the criminal world, he must become one.
Of course, the plot resembles the Dutch crime series 'Penoza', which revolves around a woman, who suddenly finds herself in the middle of the criminal world after her husband is killed in front of their youngest son. The series received an Indian adaptation under the title of 'Aarya', premiering on Prime Video.
Despite its familiar premise, 'The Gentlemen' breathes new life into the genre by seamlessly blending frequent comic relief with gritty crime elements. Its easy-to-watch nature doesn't weigh heavily on you; instead, it keeps you effortlessly engaged from start to end.
'The Gentlemen' witnesses remarkable performances
While lacking the star power of the original, Emmy nominee Theo James anchors the show with a compelling performance, evolving from impassive to endearing and charismatic.
The main cast, including Ray Winstone as Bobby Glass and Kaya Scodelario as Susie Glass, deliver strong performances, with Giancarlo Esposito, Max Beesley, and Winstone excelling as corrupt characters.
Vinnie Jones surprises with his endearing performance as the softly-spoken gamekeeper Geoff.
Expertly crafted visuals, smooth pacing, and engaging storytelling make 'The Gentlemen' on Netflix a breeze to follow and thoroughly enjoyable.
'The Gentlemen' Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix
