Spivs – 2004 | 95 mins | Drama, Thriller | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Another in the long line of ‘Lock, Stock’ inspired Cockney crime capers, however, Spivs attempts to differentiate itself from the pack by drawing on the contemporary theme of people smuggling and employing an ageing sympathetic lead character in seek of redemption. Ultimately, the engaging premise is undermined by a lack of dynamism, an uninspiring plot, and intrusive poorly-acted cameos from the likes of Jack Dee and Paul Kaye.

Jack (Ken Stott), Steve (Nick Moran), Jenny (Kate Ashfield and Goat (Dominic Monaghan) are Cockney confidence tricksters. They spend their time wheeling and dealing wherever and whenever they can. But after a simple con involving the theft of a lorry from naïve haulage boss Nigel (Jack Dee) goes awry they suddenly become wanted figures by ruthless Russian mafia boss Villa (Tamer Hassan).

In the back of the lorry they expected to be stocked with smuggled cigarettes, they find illegal immigrants. Most of them escape but they are left with 2 kids; an Albanian brother and sister, and have to decide what to do with them. Jack initially tries to dump them on the streets of East End London, but after a crisis of conscience reluctantly gives them shelter with his cousin, Vee (Linda Bassett), and endeavours to reunite them with a friend.