Thumbs up

llounger

score 7/10

Apparently in ancient Rome when a performance in the amphitheatre was bad the agreed signal was thumbs up, totally the opposite of the modern usage. So an ancient Roman would not recognise a lot of todays signals. In the same way I notice that the really bad reviews of Mortdecai are from the US. I think it is important for a viewer to know who his her critic are because not realising this bias I was put off Mortdecai until it turned up on our local SE Asian TV cable channel. I am British and thoroughly enjoyed this take off of the so called British aristocracy. Johnny Depp is always worth watching and in this film he pulls off another characterisation even if he is an American trying to be English but even that attempt is funny. The only downside is his general flappy behavior being reminiscent of Captain Sparrow. I would suggest that because we are so exposed to Captain Sparrow that any reference in body language in another character should avoid that amazing characterisation.

Other posters have said good things about the film and these I endorse. I have no problem with repeated jokes because they become bylines and familiarity is not a bad thing. For example gagging at the mustache once in could not be forgotten during the rest of the film because, after everything, husband and wives do kiss. All in all a delightful eccentric parody at all levels.

llounger 30 July 2015

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3287383/