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Formula 51 (2001)
"The 51st State" (original title)

R  |   |  Action, Comedy, Crime  |  18 October 2002 (USA)
6.3
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Ratings: 6.3/10 from 41,668 users   Metascore: 23/100
Reviews: 167 user | 94 critic | 29 from Metacritic.com

An American master chemist plans to score big on a once in a lifetime drug deal. All does not go as planned and he is soon entangled in a web of deceit.

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Title: Formula 51 (2001)

Formula 51 (2001) on IMDb 6.3/10

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Sci-Fi

In the future, Greenland is a US-owned prison colony.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Robert Jezek ...
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Jake Abraham ...
Mac McDonald ...
Aaron Swartz ...
David Webber ...
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Mr. Escobar
Sonny Muslim ...
Boy in Plane
Barbara Barnes ...
Boy's Mother
...
Mr. Ho-Fat
...
...
Frederick
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Storyline

Elmo McElroy is a streetwise American master chemist who heads to England to sell his special new formula - a powerful, blue concoction guaranteed to take you to 'the 51st state.' McElroy's new product delivers a feeling 51 times more powerful than any thrill, any pleasure, any high in history. But his plans for a quick, profitable score go comically awry when he gets stuck in Liverpool with an unlikely escort and his ex-girlfriend and becomes entangled in a bizarre web of double-dealing and double-crosses. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Have a good trip. See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, language, drug content and some sexuality | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

18 October 2002 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Formula 51  »

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£913,239 (UK) (7 December 2001)

Gross:

$57,988 (South Africa) (31 January 2003)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Emily Mortimer, she hated working in this film so much that she would cry to her mother over the phone. See more »

Goofs

When Dakota and Felix are fooling around in the bath-tub, they throw their underpants onto the floor. Yet Felix still is wearing white underpants, visible for some seconds when he's turning around in the tub. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Elmo: I mean, rules are like, arbitrary, you know. Made up for people who believe in fairy tales like, you know, like Santa Claus. Hey, but not us, right? I mean, we know what's important. There's a war going on, man. A war. Ain't that a bitch?
[cop sucks his teeth]
Elmo: I just graduated today, man. With honors. Got my degree in pharmacology. I'm licensed. Look, if you write me up on this drug charge, I won't be able to practice. So what we're talking about here is, is my life. The rest of it.
[...]
See more »

Crazy Credits

Shortly after the credits start there is a short segment with Elmo on the Golf Course outside the castle on the post card See more »

Connections

References Pulp Fiction (1994) See more »

Soundtracks

I Don't Know Why
Written by Mitchell / Randle
Published by Irving Music Inc. c/o Rondor Music (Ldn) Ltd.
Performed by O.V. Wright
Courtesy of Demon Music Group
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Brilliant film. Funny, loud and outragous
2 February 2002 | by (england) – See all my reviews

The thing I like most about the 51st State is that it seems calculated to annoy pretentious idiots with their heads stuck up their own bottoms. It doesn't take itself seriously at all, and is therefore a very good psychological device that can employed to weed out those people that do. I LOVE the fact that it's an American style movie but that it takes place on English shores. Who on earth wrote the rule that if it's British it needs to look crap, have bad acting, have laughable dialogue (Guy Ritchie) and generally be embarrassing to watch? We live in a global age, and The 51st State is very much a global movie appealing to people in whatever country they happen to be. Hence British writer. American Star. Hong Kong Director.

AND IT'S A DAMN GOOD LAUGH. SEE IT!!!!


31 of 54 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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