When they approach PJ about the scheme, she agrees to participate. She's got the right pedigree to possibly possess the missing painting. All they have to do is get her to London and present the "original" to Lionel with Harry there to authenticate it. What could go wrong?
Well, PJ is not one to be reigned in, and she has quite the loud personality, which immediately engages the lustful Shabandar. He hopes to acquire the painting and the girl, if all goes well. Things never seem to go right for poor Harry and so it goes with this plan. Between being punched in the face, being locked in a cleaning closet, losing his pants, and having to climb through hotel windows, plus shelling out money he really doesn't have to keep up appearances and placate PJ, poor Harry isn't going to have the easiest time. When another art expert named Martin Zaidenweber (Stanley Tucci) enters the picture, only to step on Harry's turf and possibly foil the plan completely, it seems nothing can go right. Can Harry, PJ and The Major make it out of this mess intact, or better yet, as millionaires themselves? Only time will tell.
Gambit is an amusing comedy, but I found that Cameron Diaz's performance and Texas accent was ridiculously over-the-top. I know that her personality was supposed to be "big as Dallas" I suppose, but I found her a bit annoying. Quite frankly, Rickman and Tucci's performances were both incredibly excessive as well, but I actually really enjoyed their characters. Rickman was just so hideously evil that he was a delight to watch, while Tucci reminded me of that old SNL skit, "Sprockets" with Mike Meyers. Colin Firth played the fool for Shabandar pretty well, but at times, I just wanted to kick him a bit myself so he'd just take charge. Cloris Leachman also has a small role as PJ's tobacco-chewing Granny. Funny stuff.
Overall, Gambit is enjoyable, but not something I'd watch over and over. It's amusing, especially the end, and worth watching, but just not the best caper flick I've seen.
