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A rough relic of the Vaughn-Ritchie era that perfectly serves up prison and sports clichés without a drop of its own innovation, all while pretending to be a study of one reformed character. Vinnie Jones is a good fighter, but I didn't buy into this more dramatic position he was in. At least Jason Statham is still the same devil because not many movies have such a funny nutcase character. Yet I've never seen such a dementedly- filmed sporting event as the final match in this film. It’s like an amateur video from the local sports team. Given the subject matter and creative cast, it's so unbelievably lazy that I feel like it was done on purpose. If Ritchie directed it, it would be absolutely amazing, or at least more absurd in its content and more visually appealing. (25.06.2008)

Comedy? Drama? Hard to say because Mean Machine is absolutely unable to decide what direction it wants to go. Whether an intimate drama interwoven with a strong football element, or simply an entertaining, unpretentious respite that won't be slowed down by cold-blooded guards and corrupt directors. In the end, it’s something in between: neither entertaining enough to get the viewer properly hyped and ready for the final match, nor imaginative enough to make me want to watch it again someday and make the most of the great cast. The only thing that really adorns the film is the football itself in all its amateurish glory, and the total nutcase Jason Statham, whose goalkeeping skills and courage would surely be appreciated even by the legendary Lev Yashin. Segal’s The Longest Yard is a few levels above in every sense. (06.10.2012)