The 51st State – 2001 | 92 mins | Action, Comedy | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Set in England, the “51st State” is often slang for the same country, previously musical groups like TheThe have used The phrase “this is the 51st state of the USA” on tracks like Heartland. In this case it’s a designer drug that will take you to the 51st state – 51 times the effect of cocaine. After pre-production troubles and countless script re-writes Stel Pavlou’s personal Cinderella story is complete, two years ago Pavlou’s regular job was in a Thresher off-licence, and he had been writing The 51st State on the side. When it was complete, it was passed on to Samuel L. Jackson who liked the script and had the time to become involved. Veteran Hong Kong director Ronny Yu tries to follow the same relentless high-energy formula as Snatch, despite entertaining moments and the obligatory action movie clichés, the film is culpable of having too many ideas and sub plots at the expense of character development.

Kilt-wearing American Elmo McElroy (Samuel L. Jackson), an illegal drug chemist, travels to Liverpool hoping to find a market for his new designer drug after double-crossing drug dealer The Lizard (Meat Loaf) back in L.A. This is McElroy’s last big deal before he retires, and he plans to sell the drug to another crime boss Durant (Ricky Tomlinson) for $20 million, but his chaperone and guide to the Liverpool rave scene is local scouse gangster and rabid xenophobe Felix De Souza (Robert Carlyle). Things go awry and soon McElroy finds himself on the run in the company of Felix, who really just wants tickets to the Liverpool F.C. versus Manchester United football match. Hot on their heels is female assassin Dakota (Emily Mortimer), who just happens to be Felix’s ex-girlfriend, and crooked cop Kane (Sean Pertwee). McElroy and Felix try to do business with big-time Merseyside dealer Iki (Rhys Ifans), while all the while trying to avoid their pursuers.