Review of The Look of Love (2013) by Stephen C — 02 Sep 2013

Wow Steve Coogan and Michael Winterbottom have come massively unstuck here with a biopic that just fails to engage on any level.

Coogan plays Paul Raymond the so called King Of Soho who would build his empire on erotica and eventually although he doesnt like to admit it pornography.

Coogan gives a good performance but the film is tedious in its execution and it also lacks a real focus.

Winterbottom seeems to want to focus on the excess and that it drugs are snorted and sex is performed but it all feels a bit flat .

Unlike 24 hour party people where the casting of comedians added to the films shambolic charm, the casting of Chris Addison and David Walliams feeels like an afterthought and there parts are eriously underwitten.

Of the female cast Imogen Poots puts in a great turn as Raymonds troubled daughter Debbie but Anna Friel is wasted as Raymonds first wife .

My own personal belief about Paul Raymonds life is that it would have made an interesting documentary rather than a film which tries to pack too much in and leaves its lead actors stranded.

A huge bore then and thats a real shame.