Jackson sheds Jedi digs, dons a kilt for latest film

Samuel L. Jackson is one of the best and most prolific actors working today. The sheer number of films he makes necessitates that some be good, others bad and some just smack dab in between -- "Formula 51" (originally known as "The 51st State" in its native England) is the latter. The film is a modestly entertaining hybrid of the works of Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie (himself a Tarantino wannabe) and a "Trainspotting"-era Danny Boyle.\nJackson headlines the flick as Elmo McElroy, a premiere drug designer whose latest creation, P.O.S. Formula 51, is set to turn the illicit drug industry on its head and make him a whole heap of money, as it's 51 times more powerful than crack, heroin, ecstasy, etc. Instead of selling the new wonder drug to his sleazy boss, aptly named The Lizard (Meat Loaf, in a turn so bad that it erases any good memories of his Bob "bitch tits" Paulson performance from "Fight Club," Elmo hightails it to Liverpool, in hopes of pedaling his formula to rival drug dealer, Leopold Durant (Ricky Tomlinson). But there's a snag: Elmo is being trailed by a hitwoman named Dakota Phillips (Emily Mortimer) -- indebted to The Lizard, she's ordered to either kill or keep Elmo alive, whichever best suits The Lizard's business interests. Ironically enough, Dakota is also the ex-girlfriend of Elmo's foul-mouthed soccer hooligan of a guide, Felix DeSouza (Robert Carlyle). Explosions, shoot-outs, explosive diarrhea, an awkward sex scene, a poorly filmed car chase and a barrage of bad language ensue as Elmo and Felix's sordid adventures unfold.\n"Formula 51" rests on the laurels of an excellently choreographed gunfight skillfully shot by director Ronny Yu (whose last flick was the kitsch classic "Bride of Chucky") in the first act of the film, and the chemistry shared between Jackson and Carlyle. Both are infinitely talented performers who elevate the material well beyond what's on the page. Jackson, yet again is the essence of cool, sporting a kilt and cornrows and brandishing a three-iron as a weapon -- he's likable throughout. \n"Formula 51" isn't bad per se, just derivative. Elements that are stolen from other more accomplished films are executed far better in the source material. The flick is never as funny nor as action-packed as it should be. All in all, "Formula 51" is OK, and is probably worth a rental if for no other reason than the performances of Jackson and Carlyle, but it's not nearly euphoric enough to catch at the multiplex.