Review of Mortdecai (2015) by Nathan E — 01 Feb 2015

Enjoyable movie. I actually liked it more than I thought I was going to. Several clever and funny moments. Nothing special, though. Plays out like a Pink Panther movie - all of the laughable absurdity without the charm of an inept but determined Clouseau...and a heap of modern cynicism thrown in (lots and lots of innuendo, both covert and overt).

All of the key players do very well with what they have, especially Depp and Bettany. Bettany in particular is surprisingly good as a gruff and grim manservant - definitely cast against type to great effect.

I did enjoy the themes of the story. It seemed that Charlie's mustache was a visual representation of his clinging to his man-childish sensibilities, something that his wife Joanna desperately wants to get rid of.