Even an accidental glimpse of the original Sweeney, whilst flicking in-between '10 minute previews' and Celebrity Big Brother highlights, will tell you that this Nick Love directed remake is a distant distant cousin to the cult classic.
The Sweeney
Entertainment One
Cert 18
You've seen the posters, the trailers and the hype but is The Sweeney any good?
Even an accidental glimpse of the original Sweeney, whilst flicking in-between '10 minute previews' and Celebrity Big Brother highlights, will tell you that this Nick Love directed remake is a distant distant cousin to the cult classic. Not even the occasional "You're nicked" (or “I think this is giving me a hard on” …which is an actual line Ben Drew's character the infamous, George Carter, says), unrealistic car chase or the dreary overuse of Regan's stereotypically unorthodox policing methods could bring it close. But why would you want that?
Grungy rat-infested offices have been replaced with high tech Dockland apartments, in which the Police carry out their jobs (by any means of course). Dodgy comb-over-sporting low rent criminals have been swapped for yachte-owning masterminds and slower than slow Ford Granadas bow down to the raw muscle and the agility of the new Ford Focus ST.
Those upset about the lack of homage to the original, you'll be please to know you do get another excellent performance from Ben Drew as he joins forces with legend Ray Winstone and the other hard hitting members of The Flying Squad to give the 2012 rejuvenation a quintessentially British and thoroughly thrilling update.
In Short...
Remove all aspects of trying to pay homage to the huge shadow cast by the television series. Instead, relish in the fact that they’d rather use baseball bats to get answers and fully loaded knuckle sandwiches to keep the criminal underworld at bay. Well worth the watch in the end; shut it, crime!!!
4/5
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