This film inevitably invites comparison with the original TV series (and falls short). It also invites comparison with the 1970s films (and falls short). Both the Regan and Carter characters are pale imitations of the John Thaw and Dennis Waterman interpretations. And regrettably, Ray Winstone is descending into a caricature of himself.
It has a silly plot with too many guns - this is England, not a place where Serbian gangsters run riot with submachine guns in Trafalgar Square. Jack Regan shouldn't be the driver, let alone of a piddly little modern Ford Focus rather than a proper Granada-sized car. What's this, a car chase on a caravan site? - you're having a larf, surely. And it's full of Americanisms ('Give me your gun and your badge', references to 'Internal Affairs') and inaccurate detail (a suspect can be detained for 36 hours without charge, and up to 96 hours with the authority of a magistrate). There is the occasional nod to other roles that Ray Winstone has played, for example when he loads a sock with batteries as a weapon compared to snooker balls in a sock in 'Scum'. There's also too much f-ing and blinding for my taste.
Directed by Nick Love, perhaps the best thing about it is that he hasn't cast the tiresome Danny Dyer in it. Below average stuff - 2/5 stars.
Would give it half a star if I could (or none).
Truly British filmmaking at it's very worst. Winstone is becoming a one trick pony and it's about time he retired.