Movie review: Gambit (+trailer)

Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine first brought Gambit to the world's movie screens in 1966.

Forty-seven years later, it is back with a fresh look but retaining the same simple British home-spun charm of the original.

Colin Firth (playing Harry) reprises Caine's role and Cameron Diaz (playing PJ Puznowski) steps into MacLaine's rather large shoes.

Though the new Gambit follows a slightly different plot line, the concept is the same - an art curator seeks to pull off a huge art fraud at the expense of a wealthy art collector.

Harry Deane knows everything there is to know about Impressionist art but the man he works for - abusive boss Lionel Shahbandar (Alan Rickman) - is a buffoon.

He treats Harry like a mere servant to his whims.

Harry is determined to exact his revenge and get the better of his boss.

To pull it off he'll need the help of a very unlikely party.

PJ Puznowski is a Texan rodeo queen who has family connections that could allow Deane to achieve success.

He flies PJ to London and hopes he can trust her long enough to convince his boss that she (and a fake Monet painting) are the real deal.

The risks are huge but the payday could be well worth it.

But all doesn't seem to be going exactly to Harry's plan and PJ seems to be showing a greater allegiance to Shahbandar.

When he hears he is about to be fired, Harry really has to up his game and get PJ onside.

The arrival on the scene of a big-time Japanese art investor could mean trouble for Harry, or will it?

Gambit is very British in its humour and some of the best moments involve Harry sneaking around.

Gambit

(M) 100 minutes

Rating: 3 / 5