Formula 51 (2002)
Directed by Ronny Yu
Written by Stel Pavlou
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer, Rhys Ifans, Meatloaf
Release Date October 18th, 2002
Published October 19th, 2002
My local multiplex has been open for about 4 and a half years. In that time I have seen almost every film to come through there. In those 4 and a half years I have never had to ask about their refund policy, because no matter how bad a film I have seen I have never walked out before something was over. Until I saw Formula 51.
This belligerent, aggressively stupid film stars Samuel L. Jackson as Elmo Mcelroy, a legendary drug chemist who’s newest creation is said to be 10 times more powerful than crack. Elmo is expected to give his new product to his boss, known as The Lizard (Meatloaf), but Elmo has other ideas and attempts to kill The Lizard. From there, Elmo takes off for the home of the Beatles, Liverpool, where he plans on cutting a better deal.
What Elmo doesn’t know is that The Lizard isn’t dead and has a hitwoman searching for him. Emily Mortimer is the expert hitwoman named Dakota. As she plans her hit she finds Elmo in the company of her ex-boyfriend Felix (Robert Carlyle). Dakota’s plans change, and it’s now her job to keep Elmo alive. Also somehow involved in this ridiculousness is a group of Nazi skinheads who want Elmo’s formula.
It was after the skinheads abducted Elmo and Felix that I took my leave of the theater. Not before though the scene where Elmo uses some explosive laxatives to aid in his and Felix’s escape. Director Ronny Yu’s decision to graphically portray the results of the explosive laxative is part of the reason why I walked out, but not the only reason.
Even before the unnecessary laxative closeup, Formula 51 was developing into the kind of film that would think explosive laxatives are funny. This doltish exercise in lethargic action comedy, is supposedly in the mold of Quentin Tarentino mixed with Guy Richie. In actuality it’s a mixture of something Quentin Tarentino pissed on and Guy Richie flushed.
I sat all the way through Rollerball, Fear Dot Com and Sweet Home Alabama. I managed to stay in the theatre all the way through Armageddon and the religious movie Left Behind starring KIRK CAMERON! I have even made it through multiple Freddy Prinze Jr movies all the way to their doltish ends, but I couldn’t make it through Formula 51, possibly the worst film I have ever seen.
