Review of Blame It on the Bellboy (1992) by Alex I — 22 Sep 2009

Before writer/director Mark Herman would find acclaim with directing films such as Brassed Off (1996), Little Voice (1998) and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008). His directorial debut was this old fashioned little British farce, which is very silly indeed, but it is good fun.

Set in Venice, it has 3 seperate people arriving from London. Hitman Mike Lawton (Bryan Brown), estate agent Melvyn Orton (Dudley Moore) and philandering mayor Maurice Horton (Richard Griffiths) are all staying at the same hotel in Venice, doing individual business.

But, unfortunately, the hotels bumbling bellboy (Bronson Pinchot) keeps getting their names mixed up, (they all sound the same, see??) So, as a result, the bellboy is giving the wrong people, the wrong instructions.

Lawton thinks his 'hit' is Patricia Fulford (Penelope Wilton) from Huddersfield, Horton is sent to look at a house owned by Caroline Wright (Patsy Kensit) thinking she's from a dating agency, and Orton is sent to look at a house, but ends up foul of the local Mafia, who were waiting for Lawton.

It's a good old fashoned farce, built on misunderstandings and coincidences. It's a real guilty pleasure, it's totally unbelievable, but it deserves a look, it's not as bad as you might think.

It's a good travellogue of Venice too!!