Review of Dean Spanley (2008) by Greg T — 02 Jan 2013
A decidedly, wilfully odd flight of fantasy that could be the most boring film you've ever seen or become a firm festive favourite that you return to again and again. It's a bit like cats and dogs.
.. A film about somewhat grim men chatting over after-dinner tipple hardly sounds to be the stuff of magic, but as DEAN SPANLEY unfurls its strangeness, and the blocks fall into place, this unexpectedly turns into a beautiful, captivating tale of transcendent loyalty that might hit anyone who has loved and lost of dog like a gut-punch.
Peter O'Toole is fantastic as the Scrooge-like old widower who has lost the ability to feel (though he does look disturbingly like a wax dummy at times), while Sam Neill brings a deft comic seriousness to his deeply odd role as the titular Dean whose bizarre stories form the crux of the narrative.
It's a gentle, touching film, but one that more than repays the scant effort required to love it.
This review of Dean Spanley (2008) was written by Greg T on 02 Jan 2013.
Dean Spanley has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
