Review of How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) by Ray D — 29 Dec 2007

It's really a shame that Bruce Robinson hasn't written or directed anything in years. This movie--inspired by the 'boom years' of the late 80's, feels more relevant than ever. Richard Grant plays a young advertising executive who has a reputation for being able to sell any product, given the assignment of coming up with a new ad campaign for pimple cream. The stress of his job starts to get to him, affecting both his marriage to Rachel Ward, and causing a large boil to grow on his shoulder. Then the boil starts to talk to him and keeps growing into a second head.....

As Richard's character becomes increasingly disgusted with modern society and adrift, the boil embraces it, serving as kind of an evil twin--the resulting struggle between Richard and his boil over their life leads to all sort of randomness, overracting and trenchant observations on what's gone wrong. The final scene, and Mr. Grant's monologue, is both hilarious and absolutely depressing. Great little dark comedy that should be seen by way more people.