Ultimateserge’s Block

Withnail & I-1986 June 18, 2010

Rating:***

Directed By: Bruce Robinson

Starring:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Paul McGann
Richard E. Grant
Richard Griffiths
Ralph Brown

With the suspicion of rodents in the sink, Withnail surrenders to the magical powers of booze to warm himself in his disturbingly chaotic apartment. If proper care was to be taken of Withnail and his friend, simply called I, they would be best placed in quarantine out of safety for other Londoners; for their sloppiness has lead to unbearable, depressing conditions which demands that they leave London and venture to the countryside for a short holiday.

Withnail & I treads along by displaying Withnail’s gay, eccentric Uncle Monty and the trouble that the two have to encounter to get his country cottage-though much of the trouble has yet to hit them. With much turbulence, such as bad weather, they reach their destination safely, thinking their vacation is bound to take a turn for the best. However, as they become familiar with their whereabouts, they find that they have chosen the wrong location to alleviate all their inner-city turmoil. From hunger and fear of death, the men encounter variant other issues that make this as unpleasant a vacation as it possibly could have become. Only a visit from a familiar face could have turned this vacation to the travesty it should have been. Not only is this granted, but includes hilarious episodes of mischief that makes I’s planned vacation as distressing as life was in his crummy apartment.

Withnail & I is off-beat even for an English comedy, rarely offering jokes and rather reaping the benefits of its comedy from the two diverse characters, and the talented actors portraying them. The characters are similar in their interests and their profession, but much different in their temperament. I is a mild-mannered, shy actor while Withnail is an out-of-control, capricious, emotional, drunk persona who unlike I has completely been unsuccessful in his acting career as of late. With such characters, Bruce Robinson can easily profit from their back and forth dialogue and not be forced to resort to cheap gags to produce a few laughs. As funny as the dynamic between Withnail and I may be, it is limited when compared to the physical comedy of Uncle Monty in regards to I which is among one of the most amazingly, laughter-inducing conversations between straight and gay men in films in recent memory. There also a few gags that still seem both creative and funny, such as the one involved in the cooking of a rooster which is horrifyingly cruel and audaciously realistic.

Writer/Director Bruce Robinson has said that I is based on himself while Withnail is based on Vivian MackKerrell whom he shared a house with. In the supplemental booklets, included in the Criterion Edition, Robinson states that even though as an actor or writer the real Withnail ( MackKerrell) did not have the passion or interest to be successful, “Vivian was brilliant at being Vivian. That was his genius, and everyone who ever met him was overwhelmed by it…his company was worth the price.” And in these few sentences lies the entire folly of the film. Vivian MackKerrell’s charm can be understood or granted, but Withnail’s cannot. It is wise of Robinson to admit that “there isn’t a line of Viv’s in the Withnail & I, but his horrible wine-stained tongue may as well have spoken every word. Without Viv, this story could never have been written.” The issue with Bruce Robinson film is that he has Vivian’s drunken and infatuation with alcohol deeply rooted in Withnail, but has been unable to translate Vivian’s charm on screen. It is unseemly why anyone would want to even remotely tolerate Withnail’s drunken tantrums and tirades, his pessimism, disregard for the emotions and wishes of others, and basically buffoonery in all the serious aspects of adulthood. Of course, there are people who have such characteristics, but with a certain appeal that makes them intriguing to be around. Unfortunately, Withnail lacks that quality and it seems odd that I has tolerated him for so long-and still continues to do so-even after the events during and after the holiday. Many alcoholics are interesting people to be around because besides drinking they seem to have other interests and insights, but Withnail is in the purest sense of the word an alcoholic without any redeeming qualities.

This entertaining film treads along nicely, never tiring or boring its audience, but after some time it becomes a realization that this is no coming-of-age film nor is it attempting to blossom gracefully or offer any additional insight about relationships, alcoholism, and English culture of the late 60. No, the film is simply Robinson’s template for testing his writing chops and paying a tribute to one of his dear friends. Withnail & I has often been cited as one of the best British films of the last twenty five years which, if true, would seem proof of England’s demising film Industry in the face of usually more apt American films. An overrated classic as it may be, Richard E Grant’s breakout performance as Withnail, and Robinson’s problematic but effective screenplay make Withnail & I a heartfelt effort.

The Criterion Collection edition of the film also includes a thirty minute documentary with Bruce Robinson and the principal cast on the making of the film.