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score 6/10
This movie made me laugh, buy it's not exciting enough to see it more than once.
The mustache, Mortdecai's pride and charm, it's a trademark funny element reminiscent of the 70's detective shows. Which makes sense because this movie's screenplay is an adaptation of the 70's British Mortdecai book series. Indeed, the settings, the characters and the tone of this film brings memories of 70's TV shows I grew up watching. Do you remember Cool McCool cartoons, Don Adam's Maxwell Smart in Get Smart, and Inspector Clouseau in Pink Panther? Also, the dynamics between Mortdecai and his manservant Jock, remind me of the British comedy Wooster and Jeeves.
I immediately liked that picaresque art dealer—charming, sophisticated, coward at times, and with very peculiar and expensive tastes. Mortdecai is an eccentric with many flaws—but he is a gentleman, capable of kindness. Often times, he inadvertently causes all sorts of wrecks and injuries. Johnny Depp pours all his vibrant JohnnyDepp-ness into his character: the attitudes and expressions and gestures and mannerisms are all great and funny.
This film is no masterpiece but it is certainly entertaining. The dark humor sometimes is silly, but that's the point of parody. There are bits of disgusting things, bits of blood, and bits of vulgarity, but enough jeopardy and suspense throughout Mortdecai's transcontinental adventure.
This stolen-painting-crime/comic plot is accompanied by subtle subplots. There's the mild love triangle between the jealous and insecure Mortdecai, his wife (Gwyneth Paltrow), and his college friend the detective (Ewan McGregor). There's the friendship with his utmost super-loyal and smart manservant and body-guard (Paul Bettany). And there's the want-to-be-passionate husband-wife relationship that leaves Mortdecai, a gentleman, bed deprived
I loved seeing Johnny Depp work with Paul Bettany—they make a brilliant team, just like they did too in Transcendence and The Tourist. Gwyneth Paltrow brings such elegance and intelligence. Ewan McGregor plays a charming-and-charmed detective. Jeff Goldblum's short role was great too!
Surely you won't be bored. Play along with the characters. The staging is funny too: the variety of locations and the paintings. The movie begins with a certain hilarious painting in the background, and ends with the same painting.
Give it a go!
Enjoy. Cheers.
Yelitza-screenwriting-student 23 January 2015
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3169021/ |
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21-11-2019 13:31:15
