The 2024 comedy/drama A Gangster’s Kiss is a clear miss in terms of Mafioso bark. This is not a cockney version of Goodfellas. It is more comedy than drama, and there is no Joe Pesci type. Although Ray comes darn close, he does not shoot the toes off the hired help.
Directed and co written by Ray Burdis, A Gangster’s Kiss feels like a distant cousin to Eastenders. A sort of upgrade, if you will, for the more criminal element of the nighttime soap. Only in this case there are no real straight comedic characters on offer. The drama and therefore the comedy, is that bit more than convoluted. The bad guys, and there are a lot to choose from here, are a pretty sad lot.
They are, however, funny.
*Burdis shares writing credit with Michael Head (Ray the film’s bogeyman enforcer.)*
Sadly, this is a wasted effort all round. It may not seem funny to our American cousins. And despite a number of very familiar English faces, it leaves much to be desired in terms of excellence.
Again, that said, it is funny and quirky. It just is not your standard American gangster film.
The story
Jack; an up and coming actor, gets cast in a gangster film. He asks childhood pals to let him go on some jobs to learn the ropes. His learning curve goes from bad to worse. Similar to Goodfellas, there is body disposal and betrayal.
And a little violence.
the cast(Familiar faces)
John Hannah is Mem. (The Mummy 1 and 2)
Patsy Kensit is Crassus. (The Birds Eye Frozen Peas girl and Lethal Weapon 2)
Sadie Frost is Mrs Orange. (Dracula 1992, Kills Anonymous 2019)
Michelle Collins is Sadie. (Eastenders)
Martin Kemp is Don (Eastenders, The Krays)
Perry Benson is Marmite. (Mum and Dad, This is England)
Vas Blackwood is Mus. (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Creep 2004)
David Schaal is Mr Orange. (The Inbetweeners, The Inbetweeners 2, Mr Nobody.)
Charlie Clapham is Jack. (Hollyoaks, Kick Ass 2)
Ray Burdis is Detective Burke. (A Gangster’s Kiss, Casualty)
Worth watching just for the cast
A Gangster’s Kiss is worth watching for the cast alone. There are so many favorites on offer here. It is fascinating to note that Martin Kemp looks no different, apart from his white hair. But Michelle Collins? She looks to have fallen into a Botox/collagen tank.
*No disrespect Michelle, but I was a bit shocked mate. Just saying.*
Patsy Kensit has got to be the best looking “mean” solicitor in cinema history. She appears to have that “Peter Pan” condition where she looks to have not aged at all. John Hannah has lost nothing in the comedic sidekick stakes and it is brilliant to see Perry Benson play comedy.
*Side note: While this is a comedy, there is serious bit of business on offer though. In short, “You do not threaten kids Ray.”*
A Gangster’s Kiss BTS
DP Ali Asad gives this the look of a ’90’s gangster film. Editors Fredrik Limi and assistant Thomas Lewis Evans put this bit of fun all together nicely. The FX look good and appear to be mostly practical. The fight scenes work well and the death scenes are impressive. Kudos to Rohit Nathaniel.
Some great comedy on offer
This is no Goodfellas, as I said before. It is not a sentimental journey down the life of a mafia “also ran.” A Gangster’s Kiss is broad English comedy. There are some allusions to other films though. A nod to Weekend at Bernie’s, the aforementioned Goodfellas and a reworking of sorts of The Hard Way.
There is a brilliant bit of comedy dealing with predictive text that may well be worth the price of admission.
Viewer beware
If you are not a fan of English comedy, films or television, give A Gangster’s Kiss a miss. (Yes, I am a poet and I know it.) If you are Anglo-curious, however, tune in for this one. It is well worth a look.
The Verdict
A Gangster’s Kiss is low budget fun. This is sublime comedy gold. A 4.5 star film that loses a half star for poor acting by some of the cast. It is streaming on Prime but it does cost to view. It can be rented or bought, if you must, for a song.
Parental Guidance
There is, surprisingly, no nudity. There is some brutal violence. Although the claret (blood) is not too over the top. There is a language warning here.
For Americans? This one will horrify those with kids, aka children. Beware! The “C” word is used a lot. The “F” word is sprinkled about like confetti. If you do not want little Johnny or Judy calling their mates a “c–t” watch it without the kiddos.
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