Director David LG Hughes was beside himself.
For a week he had been promising me a screener of his low-budget British gangster movie but it seemed all hope was lost.
To be fair, Hughes was keener for me to see Hard Boiled Sweets on the big screen. He was concerned I would not get the full effects with a DVD.
However, I told him there was no way I could get to Manchester (its nearest screening) this weekend and with that he contacted Universal Pictures and got me on to a secure website.
He was right to make the effort. His picture deserves the publicity.
In fact, even watching it through a Universal Pictures watermark with my name over the top, didn't dilute its drama and comedy.
There have been a whole stack of wannabee British crime movies since Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Most of them try to be funny but aren't - and all of them involve Cockneys or Essex wide boys.
But Hughes's film is so out of the ordinary that I forgave its south-east bias (at least it didn't include Danny Dyer, Billy Murray or Craig Fairbrass) and it certainly gave me a couple of chuckles.
Hughes has diverted from the well worn crime caper route by giving each of his players caricatures, named after sweets, to reflect their personality.
After each introduction there is a quick narrative by each character who range from a crime boss to a pimp to his young prostitute. There is also an ex-jailbird and a former cop.
The storyline is that the local crime boss in Southend (Paul Freeman) rules the locals with an iron hand (anyone who argues with him goes off the end of the pier) but while he is getting rich on ten per cent of their takings, he is about to get a visit from his London overlord (Peter Wight) who will be wanting his cut.
Meanwhile, there are other plans to hijack that cash.
There certainly are echoes of Lock Stock in the movie's set-up, humour and violence.
Strangely, the killings are where Hard Boiled Sweets loses its edge with some patchy editing.
But, that apart it is a satisfyingly sweet (pick and mix ) of toughnut villains and crafty opportunists.
Laughs: Several chortles
Jumps: none
Vomit: one scene which I have to say was totally unnecessary and made me want to gag.
Nudity: none.
Overall rating: 7/10