prvteye-1

Based upon the trailers (and the goofy head-shot on the posters), I had expected 'Mortdecai' to be a clone of the Inspector Clouseau series. As such, I had low expectations and really had no intention of watching it. I had rented the bluray for my wife.

Instead, I was pulled in during the first few minutes and I ended up laughing throughout the entire film.

Having seen it, I'd compare it to Austin Powers rather than to Inspector Clouseau. This is a good thing.

The thing I enjoyed about the film was that it was sometimes silly, frequently farcical, but it never violated its own rules just for laughs. There's no breaking of the fourth wall, nor do Mortdecai or Jock, his man servant, ever behave as other than what we are told they are.

Gwyneth Paltrow is great as the fantasy upper-crust wife who is smart enough to see what's going on around her but loyal enough to give her husband rope to see his plans through while you know she has her own contingency. Let's also just say that she looks "mahvelous" when she shows up unexpectedly at a party. Rawr!

This is a movie about characters and stereotypes. None of it bears even the remotest resemblance to real life. If you want a film where the characters grow and come to realizations about themselves, this is not that film. If you want a popcorn film that tells you exactly what to expect and then delivers on those expectations, then you'll probably enjoy 'Mortdecai'.

Certainly, it's worth the buck-fifty at the Redbox.