London. The 60s. Two unemployed actors-acerbic, elegantly wasted Withnail (Richard E. Grant) and the anxiety-ridden “I” (Paul McGann)-drown their frustrations in booze, pills, and lighter fluid. When Withnail’s Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths) offers his cottage, they escape the squalor of their flat for a week in the country. They soon realize they’ve gone on holiday by mistake when their wits-and friendship-are sorely tested by violent downpours, less-than-hospitable locals, and empty cupboards. An intelligent, superbly acted, and hilarious film, The Criterion Collection is proud to present Bruce Robinson’s semi-autobiographical cult favorite in its complete and uncut version. A corrosively funny, semiautobiographical account by writer-director Bruce Robinson (How to Get Ahead in Advertising) about a couple of destitute roommates, young actors living in drunken squalor in 1969, the twilight days of swingin’ London. Withnail (the astounding Richard E. Grant in a definitive performance) is a kind of depraved, modern-day Oscar Wilde, but without the money or the manners. The “I” of the title is the younger and more impressionable Marwood (Paul McGann), who stands somewhat in awe of his scandalous, demented, hysterical pal. While on a miserable holiday in the bitterly cold and damp countryside, they stay with wealthy, corpulent “Uncle Monty” (Richard Griffiths), who takes quite a liking to young Marwood, much to his consternation. Though not well known in the United States, Withnail & I has a major cult following in England. It’s uproariously funny in a peculiarly British way, and the acting is absolutely scintillating. (Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert said Griffiths’s was the best performance by an actor in a British film since Denholm Elliott in A Room with a View.) This one’s a real treat for the caustic at heart. –Jim Emerson
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March 12, 2010
#1
Am i the only one one who found this movie like having a tooth pulled out with a pair of pliers? That boring.
March 12, 2010
#2
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
“Withnail and I” follows the story of two unemployed actors, named “Withnail” and “I” living together in a London apartment. Withnail’s uncle Monty offers to let them go on vacation at his cottage in the country. When they arrive, they find the place inhospitable for their tastes and when Monty arrives, he tries to seduce I.
The film became a cult favorite in England and was even produced by the late George Harrison. The film has mediocre acting and several scenes that will offend some people.
One interesting scene is where the characters make and then smoke a camberwell carrot. This is a very large marijuana joint which is more like the size of a parsnip than of a carrot.
The DVD has special features including a theatrical trailer, production photos, a collectible poster, and the documentary “Withnail and Us” which has interviews with cas and crew.
Fans of British cult movies will love this one!
March 12, 2010
#3
If you are one of those who entered the imdb.com recommended link and ended up here looking for a comedy or even anything remotely entertaining then I can promisse you that buying this or its sister movie will leave you disapointed. And I feel that it is my duty to warn you. Comon, drinking lighterfluid and rolling megajoints hasnt been funny for over thirty years, not since the days of the Big Bamboo record, with which this movies atmosphere bears no resemblance at all. Gay people, farmers, villagers, drunks, poacher, stoned people, dirty dishes, weekend in the country, DUI, contry animals, if this makes you amused and happy then go ahead, I completely missed the point. Two drunks rolling over each other and a weekend with their gay uncle in the contry. There, I just saved you 25 bucks.
March 12, 2010
#4
I read many great, raving reviews of this film, so I bought it. I have a moive night once a week for some friends. Last night we watched “Withnail and I”, and “The Hidden Fortress”. Well, the three other people and I all looked at each other at the end of withnail. We couldn’t believe how unfunny it was. The acting was awlful. The actors seemed to be trying to hard to sell their lines. There was some good writing in it, but it was so forced, I kept waitng for it to be beleiveable but it never was. The drug dealer and uncle monty were the only good actors in the film. Sadly there time on screen was about a total of 15 minutes. Usually if I buy a DVD that costs 10 dollars or less I’m not too shocked that it sucks, but at the price this DVD is, I couldn’t belive how bad it is. “The Hidden Fortress” was funnier.
March 12, 2010
#5
I bought this movie based on a scene (seen on TV) near the end – in the apartment when the drug dealer was philosophizing and everyone was stoned in a crazy, inspired scene. The acting here was great, while the cameras and dialog were expertly arranged.
So we pop the movie in and we are treated to some fun degenerate, young roomates acting their age during a heady moment in time, the late ’60s. It kept our interest up until the chicken scene, truly a high point of humor that was never to be topped for the rest of the film.
Then the gay uncle arrives, forcing himself on the hapless boys. This could have been humorous for a short while, but the joke goes on and on, until the film hinges on this one thing, wearing thin. This is the reason it gets 2 stars – could have been a wonderful film if they had not bogged it down in a predicable one-joke middle series of scenes.