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ShareTrue story. In 1951, four University of Glasgow students aflame with nationalist pride break into Westminister Abbey to steal the titular stone, a Scottish national symbol that the British swiped in 1296. Everything goes wrong.
The story screams for deadpan farce or the authentic Scottish rudeness of Trainspotting, but writer/director Charles Martin Smith opts for a conventional Hollywood light comedy tone and never reaches for the big laugh.
Most of the scenes are taken from life, according to Smith on his bland “this really happened” commentary. More fiction-making might have juiced up much dull exposition.
Charlie Cox is energetic as leader of the plot. The contrasting characters of Stephen McCole as the boisterous co-conspirator and Ciaron Kelly, the shy one, provide most of the fun, giving a strong sense of the material’s comic potential.
EXTRAS Director commentary. Widescreen. English, French audio.
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