Samuel L. Jackson,
Robert Carlyle,
Emily Mortimer,
Rhys Ifans,
Meat Loaf
... see more 
First-time screenwriter Stelios Pavlou enjoyed a major success with this script that he wrote while working in an English liquor store by sending it to actor Samuel L. Jackson, who signed on for one o... read more
Directed by: Ronny Yu
Release Date: October 18, 2002
DVD Release Date: February 4, 2003
Stats: 1,333 reviews
A kilt wearing American pharmacologist comes to Liverpool to sell the formula for a new kind of street drug, but his former employer sends a hitwoman after him to ensure he fails. The 51st state is very frustrating to watch as I couldn't help feeling that there was a decent film ... read more
After reading the script I can safely say this is another example of a producer having absolutely no clue what he's doing and the hire of a poor casting director. A wasted opportunity!
Formula 51 is a forgettable Guy Ritchie knockoff that seems to get more painful to watch as it gets closer to the end credits. The performances for the most part are tolerable with the exception of Meat Loaf, who seemed to be channeling a retarded Bob Dole on cheap speed. Emily M... read more
Came out at a time when Guy Ritchie was The Coolest director (not the director here though) and Sam Jackson and Robert Carlyle were The Coolest actors. So we should be waiting for a 'muthafuckin' cool movie' (me sounding like Sam) but the result is more like 'a shite flick that l... read more
Around the turn of the millennium there were a whole host of action flicks trying to out cool each other. They seem dated now, but at least this story of a kilt-wearing American chemist selling a wonder drug to a bunch of Scousers is full of the typical British gangster flick hum... read more
I think this one will be more appealing to the British Audience because of the cast being mainly made up of British tv stars. Certainly a watchable films, but nothing too spectacular.
Pretty lame. They took every chance they could to point out that England is different that the U.S. Meatloaf gets blown up, and Sam Jackson wears a kilt. Eh.
Director Yu seems far more interested in gross-out humor than in showing us well-thought stunts or a car chase that we haven't seen 10,000 times. Full Review
Stars Samuel L. Jackson in the worst role of his career.
Ridiculous, dispiriting and ... coarse. Full Review
None of this makes a lick of sense, and the appalling unfunny story goes from bad to worse. Full Review
It isn't simple bad taste that Formula 51 deals in, but a total vacuum of feeling. Full Review
It's no sin to try too hard. But in Formula 51, the effort shows. And in breezy, bloody, offhand action comedies, that's a cardinal sin.
The fun of the movie is the chance it affords to watch Jackson, who also served as executive producer, take his smooth, shrewd, powerful act abroad. Full Review
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