Jane Horrocks virtually ruins this film with her nasal impersonation of a whiny cockney teenage bulimic. She’s like a nastier and unfunnier version of Harry Enfields spotty adolescent “Kevin”.
Other Mike Leigh films have suffered from actors getting too “stuck”. Instead of creating credible “characters” they slide into grotesque caricature. Timothy Spall in this film also overcooks the goofball eccentricities of Aubrey; his acting becomes parodic, becomes a “performance” of quirky mannerisms; he’s fallen flat into a 2 dimensional comedy sketch character from off The Fast Show.
Mike Leigh has to take the rap really; he’s allowing actors to become ridiculous. A serious failure of judgement is going on. When i first saw this film back in the early 90’s i had the same dismayed reaction to it as i have now. It was the first film of his where i’d thought, “No, this isn’t working – it’s crossed over from being comedy of cringe into simply being embarrassing. Not embarrassingly funny; embarrasingly bad”.
Even Alison Steadman resorts to the verbal mannerisms of roles she’s played before (ala Beverley in Abigails Party), doing her little this and little that… “Aww bless him”… “You’re jokin me“”….and “little” chuckly laughs, trying to make light, make trite of everything.
Jane Horrocks says “bollocks” alot, and needs boyfriend David Thewlis to do wierd sex on her. “Not again, it’s borin” he groans. “I’m not doing it then” she says. “Lie down then” he says. “You pervert”. Turns out she likes to be tied up to the bed and have chocolate spread smeared and sucked off her flat chest.
David Thewlis is about the only character that works, has authenticity. “I don’t want “it”, i want “you”. I want to treat you like a real person rather than a fucking shagbag” he says. “You’re a fake” he says.
He’s right. Not only not a real person. But not even a real character. A genuine fake.
“Piss off then!” she snarls.
So he does. He leaves her.
I cheered him out the door
Dir: Mike Leigh, England
4/10
