'Mortdecai'
C
There are angry Russians, scary terrorists and stolen Nazi art in a film full of typical characters, and “Mortdecai” is not typical.
Filled with slapstick humor and lavish sets, “Mortdecai” takes the viewer across the world and gets the main character in all sorts of trouble along the way.
Johnny Depp transforms himself into the character of Charlie Mortdecai, a pompous, shady British art dealer with a mustache awaiting its day of reckoning. While seeking $8 million to pay off back taxes, an interesting proposition comes to Mortdecai’s rescue.
An old friend and MI5 officer, Alistair Maitland, portrayed by Ewan McGregor, seeks Charlie’s help to find a Goya painting stolen by an international terrorist. In return for his services, Charlie will receive compensation to save him from financial doom.
Intertwined within this tale is Gwyneth Paltrow’s Johanna Mortdecai. Although she is withholding sex to get Charlie to remove his atrocious mustache, she takes saving the Mortdecai estate into her own hands.
She’s the true underdog of the film. We all love the underdog.
But let’s be realistic. This portrayal of the lavish lifestyles of the rich and British and the over-the-top attempts at humor missed the bar. The actors were trying so hard to be funny the movie fell just short of stupid.
I mean, after Charlie accidentally shot his assistant for the 100th time, the eye rolls were so dramatic anyone could have seen them in dim theater lighting.
Then, when Olivia Munn appeared, I expected some sort of enhancement in humor, only to be severely disappointed when the humor took a new level of stupidity.
There really is no way to describe it unless you see it.
The only saving grace was the plot was not even remotely predictable. This film will leave you guessing until the last scene. If you can get past the jokes, you will enjoy the suspense.
You’re never sure where the Goya painting is, and I give the director and writers credit for that.
If you go to see this film, see it for the dynamic between Johanna, Charlie and the Goya. That’s the true relationship of the film.
Otherwise, you will leave with a feeling of disappointment and an irritating question nagging at your brain: Will Johanna ever be able to convince Charlie to shave that mustache?
