Naive nice guy Chris King (an engaging performance by Andrew Lowery) is badly shaken by his father's sudden untimely death. Things get worse for poor Chris when he finds himself neck deep in all kinds of perilous trouble that includes vicious freelance assassin Timothy Straker (a genuinely chilling portrayal by Geraint Wyn Davies), a couple of nasty dope dealers, and a bunch of CIA agents led by the smooth Joseph Wakeman (the always fine Christopher Plummer). Chris joins forces with scrappy, but lovely petty thief Jamimah "Jimmy" Camely (the delightful Leslie Hope) to get figure out what's going on. Director John Eyres, working from a convoluted, yet still compelling script by Ray Sallows, relates the lively and eventful story at a constant snappy pace, stages the thrilling action scenes with rip-snorting gusto, and further enhances the infectiously wacky narrative with a winning sense of breezy humor. Moreover, there's a really sweet, loose and appealing chemistry between leads Lowery and Hope that's a true treat to watch. Nice supporting performances by Tony Rosato as Wakeman's sensible partner Jim Raintree, Don Francks as amiable wino Norman, Kenneth Welsh as hard-nosed police Captain Alex Rose, David Nerman as sleazy drug dealer Wolfe, and Rino Romano as Wolfe's scuzzy buddy Zelmo. Peter Benison's polished, energetic cinematography and the jangly, rattling, spirited score by Stephen Edwards are both up to speed. Granted, the plot is admittedly pretty ridiculous and far-fetched, but it's this film's very cheerful sense of all-out absurdity which makes it so entertaining. A hugely enjoyable blast.
Review of The Conspiracy of Fear
