Kill or be kilt:

There are 20 million reasons to watch master of cool Samuel L Jacksonteaming up with high-calibre British talent in the comedy action thrillerThe 51st State. Available to buy on DVD and VHS from 7th October,here’s your chance to “taste the rainbow”.

Jackson plays Elmo McElroy, a kilt-clad, golf club-toting recreationalpharmaceuticals expert, who has just created the perfect wonder drug. On therun from his erstwhile boss in LA, he’s come over to the UK to sell his latest -and greatest – product, POS51.

Local hood and Liverpool FC fanatic Felix DeSouza, played by Robert Carlyle,is the man responsible for getting McElroy from the airport to the deal. Butwhen it all goes wrong, DeSouza has to get himself – and his charge – out oftrouble. But how well can a Scouse scally team up with a “large blackgentleman wearing a dress”, especially when that man seems intent ondestroying everything he touches?

What with bamboozling the British police force, evading the assassin’s bulletsand outwitting skinhead Manchester United supporters while trying to make thedrugs deal of the century, McElroy and DeSouza have their work cut out. Butwhat is the secret of this new wonder drug? How can McElroy feed it to the UKrave scene without being fed to the wolves? And what are the mysterious sideeffects that have McElroy and DeSouza running for cover?

With leading Hollywood presence Jackson (Pulp Fiction, The Negotiator, StarWars) and top Brit actor Carlyle (The Full Monty, Trainspotting), the actingtalent is second to none. And the supporting cast is no less impressive asSean Pertwee plays the increasingly frustrated detective Virgil Kane; Meatloafis the Lizard, a psychopathic drugs lord with a thirst for revenge; andEmily Mortimer as McElroy’s would-be nemesis, playing an assassin with emotional issues. Other star appearances are made byRicky Tomlinson and Rhys Ifans.

Director Ronny Yu has kept the action fast and the pace furious, with highlycharged set pieces, including an exhilarating car chase and some gut-wrenchingexplosions. And with its crackling dialogue, hilarious slapstick comedy and, ofcourse, some classic Jackson one-liners in the ingenious script by StelPavlou, The 51st State is an exuberant joyride destined to keep you on theedge of your seat.

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Get ready to party with The 51st State – available to buy on DVD and VHS from7th October 2002.

News page content input by Dominic Robinson, 2002.