Rent Withnail and I (1987)

Must See British Comedy - Withnail and I review by GI

Hilariously funny and a sheer delight, one of the best British comedies you'll ever see. Littered with great lines and three brilliant central performances from Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann and Richard Griffiths this is a semi-autobiographical story from writer and director Bruce Robinson set in 1969. Grant is Withnail and the & I is McGann (actually named Marwood), they are two unemployed actors living in a squalid flat in Camden eternally waiting for a call from their agent. Both former public schoolboys they live their lives focused on drink and drugs, especially Withnail, a manic depressive who panics when the booze runs out. On a whim, to recharge their batteries they persuade Withnail's gay Uncle Monty (Griffiths) to let them go on holiday to his remote cottage in Cumbria. Both of them are ill equipped for the experience but when Uncle Monty arrives and has taken a big fancy to Marwood their friendship is challenged. There's a unique intelligence to this film which works on so many levels and the characters are brilliantly written and have an originality that makes them very memorable, including drug dealer Danny (Ralph Brown) and Michael Elphick as a Cumbrian poacher. There's also a sadness to the film especially with Withnail, and Richard E. Grant's Hamlet soliloquy at the end is very moving revealing Withnail's acting talent lost in a haze of alcohol. A rich and brilliant film, if you've never seen this it's a must, a comedy that captures the times, great soundtrack (Hendrix) and forever quotable - "As a youth I would weep in butcher's shops"

Probably THE ultimate cult film: endlessly quotable, profoundly moving & perfectly acted - Withnail and I review by TB

The title pretty much says it all. This film is perfection. The most staggering thing about it in many ways is that it works at all. If you say the plot to someone, it sounds like the worst film ever: 2 down-on-their-luck/penniless actors escape their filthy flat in London for a weekend in the country after finding favour with the camp uncle of one of them. The holiday is a complete disaster, then things get worse when they receive an unexpected & uninvited guest. They then return back to the flat & nothing much has changed. But, as was said wryly by Ralph Brown, "it just goes to show that sometimes you don't need a good plot!"

The best thing about Withnail is it's script. Written by writer/director Bruce Robinson out of desperation & depression when he was living in conditions like in the film, this is one of the funniest stories ever created. Filled with line after line of endlessly quotable dialogue, it has become a cult favourite, particularly amongst students who relate to its alcoholic & poor protagonists.

The performances are note-perfect, especially Grant as Withnail. Based on one of Robinson's friends, Withnail should be an absolutely revolting, horrible character who you wouldn't want to have within 100 miles of you. But yet he is utterly charming, a totally deluded & vain man who is constantly getting himself into unmentionable & excruciatingly embarrassing situations, sometimes by his own making.

Paul McGann is also perfectly cast, playing the "I" character, although his proper name is Marwood. Effectively a composite of Robinson himself, Marwood is a ball of nerves, the man who usually ends up at the sharp end when things go wrong, constantly worrying about things, mainly what new issue Withnail will cause the pair of them. Marwood is also a gentle soul, the water to Withnail's fire. It must be said without him/McGann's performance, the film would be totally unbearable.

And rounding things off is the brilliant Ralph Brown as Danny the dealer. Speaking in a nasally voice & always carrying various hard drugs, Danny is a genius of a character. Spouting off ridiculous conspiracy theories such as hairdressers being in the employment of the government due to hair being your ariels and picking up signals from the cosmos, he perfectly rounds off the ensemble.

From a behind the scenes viewpoint, again it's a miracle this film exists at all. After the first day's shooting, an attempt was made to shut it down by one of the producers, which only failed as Robinson threatened to walk off the film and leave everyone in limbo. The film itself also looks like it was made very cheaply, which adds completely to the charm of it. Effectively, the DVD looks like a pirate copy, although I haven't seen if there is a remastered version (to be honest I wouldn't want there to be, as it'll ruin the charm.)

But complete credit must go to Bruce Robinson. His determination, talent & brilliance as a writer/director resulted in this total & utter gem. Whilst it's sad that he never again reached these heights (although The Rum Diary was a very good attempt to reclaim some lost ground,) salivate & enjoy watching one of the best small films ever made. Then find some other fans & see how long you can keep quoting it (it'll be years!)

Flawless perfection.