Review of Clockwise (1986) by Eric B — 12 Apr 2013

Hardcore Monty Python fans may be disappointed with this lightweight John Cleese vehicle, but it's an enjoyable, if unambitious, farce. Cleese draws on his Python history to play Brian Stimpson, a punctilious headmaster with a constant eye on the clock and his students. He's not the ferocious military caricature you might expect, however -- he has a sense of humor and warmth beneath his steely exterior. His students fear him, but also they also like and respect him.

Stimpson is thrilled to get an invitation to helm a prestigious headmaster conference, and takes a day off to travel to the event. Alas, he makes an uncharacteristic mistake and gets on the wrong train. Determined not to be late, he scrambles for other travel options. This sets in motion a series of screwball mishaps involving police pursuit, a monastery, misguided "shortcuts" and other tomfoolery. Funny enough but, unfortunately, Cleese's main comic foil is a teen student played by a shy, novice actress with little skill and a wedge-like hairstyle that badly dates the film.