Three and Out (2008) Reviews

Death gives two men a new lease on life in this dark comedy from the UK. Paul Callow (Mackenzie Crook) makes his living driving a subway train in London, though he'd like nothing more than to be able to quit his job, move to Scotland and devote his time to writing a novel. Paul isn't an especially cheerful guy under the best of circumstances, but he's been on edge since two people slipped off a platform and fell onto the tracks before he could stop his train. A fellow driver tells Paul that the London Underground rail system has a secret policy called "three and out," in which if a driver is responsible for three fatalities within a month, they'll be let go with a golden handshake equal to a decade's salary. Shocked but sensing an opportunity, Paul looks for someone wanting to kill themselves, and finds Tommy Cassidy (Colm Meaney), who Paul prevents from jumping off a bridge in a suicide attempt. Paul makes Tommy an offer -- if he'll throw himself under Paul's train, Paul will give him enough money to enjoy one last night on the town and still have enough to leave a nest egg for his family. Tommy agrees, and Paul takes him to Liverpool for a wild weekend, where they revel in the joys of petty crime and Paul attempts to romance Tommy's teenage daughter Frankie (Gemma Arterton) and his former wife Rosemary (Imelda Staunton). But what if Tommy enjoys himself enough that he doesn't feel like dying at Paul's behest on Monday? ~ Mark Deming, Rovi