Formula 51

The title of Formula 51 couldn't be more appropriate for this perfunctory action-comedy, seeing as it's cobbled together from at least that many formulaic plot points, formulaic action sequences, formulaic catch phrases, formulaic jokes and suffers from formulaic casting. Samuel L. Jackson recycles his stock bad-ass persona as a kilt-wearing, golf-playing, cornrow-sporting disgraced pharmacologist who has supposedly created a potent new rave drug. After double-crossing his drug kingpin boss (Meat Loaf in a completely inept bad-guy performance), he's off to England to sell the concoction's chemistry to a higher bidder. But complications arise in the form of traitorous partners (Robert Carlyle), crooked cops and a sweetly sexy assassin (Emily Mortimer) on his trail, all of which lead to many stale, hackneyed car chases and flavorless, slow-motion shootouts that feel about as fresh as a microwave dinner. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD extras include both full frame and widescreen versions, a 13-minute Cinemax making-of featurette, and trailers. Bottom line: always nice to see both versions on one disc; unfortunately, the movie is a disappointment either way.] (R. Blackwelder)