xander-2

Superior example of British comedy film making amongst a sea of duds. British film-makers never got it more right than here. Tremendous story and script plus wonderful performances from a whole host of character actors, especially Peter Sellers and Terry-Thomas.

Very funny satire on British industrial relations.

These comments contain a public health warning. I strongly urge all decent citizens to NEVER see this film unless it is for free and you have done all you want to do in life at least twice. Maybe not even then.

A few words to explain this courtesy to fellow sentients. I won't waste 178 Director's Un-cut minutes of your valuable time.

Pretentious. That's a good word to describe my opinion on this overblown melodrama, this shallow, hideously glossy examination of two worthless souls.

Irritated. Another excellent word which encapsulates my feelings as the tedious protagonists exposed their unconscionably dull lives to me. I felt as though I was the single guest at a dinner party of tepid acquaintances who drone on about their bathroom grouting for three hours and then have a fight about it whilst you're downing the last of the lambrusco.

Murderous. A very pleasurable state of mind. All those involved should have been smothered with a pillow; Betty Blue herself for her puerile psychotic petulance; Zorg for his definitive depiction of a vapid loser and of course the director who should also have been riddled with a full-clip for having the audacity to perpetuate this gallic monstrosity without a trace of irony.

For those of a carnal disposition, there are a couple of decent sex scenes but you can see those anywhere you sad person.

It is incumbent on a film-maker to make his characters and the story interesting for the poor viewer. Betty reminds me of an intense bratty child though with pneumatic lips, forever slitting her wrists and screeching to gain attention. Not interesting after three minutes Monsieur Beineix. Here's the last word.

Painful.

Brilliant stupid fun with the excellent Eddie Bracken as the hapless hero. Lacks the sophistication of many screwball comedies to it's enduring credit. Knockabout slapstick is so often maligned by people who can't appreciate a simple good laugh. The scene where Betty Hutton encourages Bracken to propose to her is one the cleverest pieces of comedy put to film.

Possibly Preston Sturges' masterpiece; then again 'Hail the Conquering Hero' is just as funny.