A top-flight cast of British actors, including Ray Winstone, Ian McShane and Tom Wilkinson, is wasted in this dull, aimless tale about a man who may or may not seek violent revenge on his wife’s lover. Although his tough-guy friends think the answer’s obvious, cuckold Colin (Winstone) can’t decide whether to deliver the ultimate punishment to the young homewrecker they’re holding captive in a small room. But 44 Inch Chest forfeits any sympathy we’re supposed to have for the heartbroken Colin with flashbacks of him viciously beating his cheating wife, and the script is a case study in dramatic inertia—most of the action takes place in a single room and consists of vulgar, redundant dialogue. All told, it’s a joyless journey with no destination.
This article appears in Jun 3-9, 2010.
