You know the expression, “We’d be crazy not to do it?” Well I think it applies in the case of the crazy scheme at the heart of Stone of Destiny. I went in not knowing if the tale was true or not, but in the end I don’t think that it mattered because the “Stone Job” is basically a metaphor for that thing that people tell you is impossible to do. It’s that one dream that people tell you that you can’t do. And it’s just generally that refusal to ignore your dad when he tells you that you’re idealism is forcing you to live a wasted life and that you should do what he did: sell out, settle down and make your kid realize the same.

But Ian (Stardust’s Charlie Cox) doesn’t buy any of that. Like a number of youths in his university class, he’s dedicated to the ideal that Scotland should be able to chart its own destiny and govern themselves. The year is 1950, and another motion is before Parliament on behalf of Scotland forming a government of their own outside British influence, which of course was soundly defeated. Ian and his friend Bill (Billy Boyd AKA: Merry the Hobbit) decide to launch a bold plan to recover the symbol of Scottish independence from the heart of Westminster Abby. The plan was bound to fail with so many variables, yet Ian and his rag-tag crew are committed to rescuing the Stone after 700 years in English custody.

It’s no Braveheart, but it’ll do. I enjoyed the film to a point, and that point was when the film ran headlong into typical heist movie clichés. Another somewhat minor issue is that the whole idea of stealing the Stone comes up so subtly; I was sitting there thinking, “So what, this is how they get started?” But back to clichés. First of all, as always, there’s a girl. Kate Mara plays Kay, a fiery, red-haired Scottish lass that’s always there to give Ian the right push. There’s Gavin (Stephen McCole), a bruiser type who’s known more for his drinking acumens than his engineer skills. And then there’s Alan (Ciaron Kelly), the strong and silent type, who’s the owner of the second, necessary car.

The ensemble’s kind of fun, but they don’t feel weighed quite right; basically they don’t leave much of an impression. Providing real support is Robert Carlyle as John MacCormick, one of the politicians leading the charge for Scottish self-rule that becomes Ian’s accidental benefactor. I love the way Carlyle plays it in the way he deals with Ian’s reckless enthusiasm and arrogant self-confidence, but inside you can tell that McCormack wishes that their positions were revered, and that he was the one heading to London to knick the Stone. There’s a really good mentor/mentored relationship in the way that Cox and Carlyle play against each other; it’s the heart of the movie in a lot of ways.

Basically, Stone of Destiny is fun, but I have to say that it’s not quite fun enough. It falls short on a couple of levels in terms of both story and character, which led me to believe that it’s probably, in part, a true story after all. And comparisons to Braveheart are not as dopey as they sound, I think, because the bittersweet ending is both inspiring and typical of Scottish luck. If you’re familiar with the notion of Scottish luck, then this will appeal to you. Otherwise, this Stone might just be another rock.