Three And Out

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On Sky Movies Drama 05/01/10 03:30

Director: Jonathan Gershfield

Stars: Mackenzie Crook, Colm Meaney, Gemma Arterton, Imelda Staunton

Year: 2008 Running Time: 106 mins Rating:

When two people fall under his train in a week, tube driver Paul (Mackenzie Crook) learns that a third such incident will bring him a life-changing pay-off. But whose misfortune can he rely on? Step forward suicidal Irishman Tommy Cassidy (Colm Meaney). Imelda Staunton and Bond girl Gemma Arterton play Tommy’s estranged family in a British buddy caper that hops the tracks between broad farce and wistful drama.

Review

Mackenzie Crook plays Paul Callow, a bookish Underground driver who dreams of escaping London to write novels at a remote Scottish hideaway.

After watching helplessly as his train notches up two fatalities in one week, Paul’s colleagues enlighten him on the ‘three and out’ rule: one more victim before the month’s out and he’ll be retired out on ten years’ salary.

With assisted suicide in mind, Paul gets his wires crossed with a cannibalistic French weirdo (Anthony Sher) before stopping Meaney’s abrasive Dubliner from throwing himself off a road bridge.

The pair make a deal. Paul gives Tommy £1500 to blow over the weekend; Tommy becomes Paul’s third victim first thing on Monday.

But since Paul wants to keep an eye on his investment, he’s forced to tag along as Tommy heads north to make peace with Rosie and Frankie (Staunton and Arterton), the wife and daughter he hasn’t seen in eight years.

First stop Liverpool for a spot of burglary to steal back a trinket Tommy lost to an old workmate (Gary Lewis). And a cameo appearance by Kerry Katona as, ahem, a Scouse slapper.