I found myself watching The Magnificent Eleven as I'm binging on all the remakes of Seven Samurai (1954) and this is certainly the oddest.
That's right this 2013 British made football themed movie is remake of 1954's Japanese made samurai movie! Who would have thought it?
Starring Sean Pertwee, Keith Allen and a very tired looking Robert Vaughn this movie was at an immediate disadvantage with me.
I tend to dislike UK cinema and I hate football, so what chance did it stand really?
Telling the story of a small football team who seek sponsorship from a local indian restaurant and how it gets them into a spot of bother with the local crime syndicate.
I have to say it's not what I expected at all. For a start this is in no universe a remake of Seven Samurai, I don't know how in the blue hell they can justify that. Second the football is a side theme and the movie doesn't climax in a football game like you'd assume, it goes in a different direction and is all the better for it.
A distinctly average film from a genre I dislike that comes out better than expected mostly due to a great finale.
Better than it by all rights should have been and does NOT deserve the critical reception it seems to have recieved.
The Good:
Great finale
Strong cast
The Bad:
Robert Vaughn should have retired by this point, I loved the man but here he demonstrates that he should have been putting his feet up
Still a football movie at its core
Things I Learnt From This Movie:
I entirely approve of Gary Linker having a mute disguised role
Keith Allen has considerably more talent than his daughter could dream of