CHARMING eccentricity is difficult to work into a movie and is something Johnny Depp has become very adept at in his career.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But he is off mark with his latest larger-than-life character – Charlie Mortdecai.
Mortdecai is an eccentric art dealer based out of London who has a seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of the fine arts.
So when a restoration artist is murdered and a painting stolen Inspector Alistair Martland (Ewan McGregor) reluctantly calls on Mortdecai and his manservant/thug Jock (Paul Bettany) to recover it.
At the same time, Mortdecai’s wife Johanna (Gwenyth Paltrow) becomes interested in the case and begins conducting her own investigation.
As Mortdecai and Jock bumble and fight their way deeper into the mystery, the art dealer is also trying to get rid of an 8 million pound debt.
Many people will find Mortdecai – both the film and the character – difficult to watch.
The film comes across almost as strange as Depp’s character but I don’t mind saying I enjoyed it.
I was content to sit back and watch Johnny Depp flail about on screen spouting a “posh” English accent and being baffled and befuddled by the most pedestrian of things.
A majority of audiences will find Depp disappointing. He is a far cry from his eccentric and very likeable pirate Captain Jack Sparrow but Mortdecai isn’t as cringeworthy as other Depp films including Dark Shadows and The Lone Ranger.
The rest of the cast do a fine enough job with Paltrow and Bettany the standouts.
Paltrow is very entertaining as Mortdecai’s wife with their awkward relationship providing a few laughs.
The relationship between manservant Jock and Mortdecai is just as curious and Bettany is solid as the thug-turned-butler. Ewan McGregor walks it in as the lead inspector and Mortdecai’s rival.
Mortdecai marks the sixth time David Koepp has taken a seat in the director’s chair.
Koepp has previously directed Depp in Secret Window as well as taking the helm on average films Ghost Town (2008), Premium Rush (2012) and Stir of Echoes (1999).
If you’re happy to watch Johnny Depp do whatever he wants for two hours, Mortdecai is worth a look.
Mortdecai (M) is now showing at Bendigo Cinemas. See page 3 of the Bendigo Advertiser for session details.
Follow film reviewer Chris Pedler on Twitter @FilmNerdChris