Sometimes I am wondering what do these actors think, or maybe better said what do their agents think. Johnny Depp and Gwyneth Paltrow are two of the most gifted actors of their generation, blessed not only by success and awards, but also by a touch of genius that made some of their previous roles unforgettable. Yet, they seem to have taken in the last ten years or so all the possible bad decisions. They are however still young, beautiful and charismatic and here is in Mortdecai an opportunity to amplify their talent and power. An opportunity they missed.
source http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3045616/
Mortdecai is a crime comedy that the British film-maker should know how to make enjoyable and successful even when they make the film at Hollywood. The very idea of the aristocratic art expert and dealer traveling the world to recover a stolen painting that heeds the secrets of the Nazi gold is as good as any other incredible pretext. The problem is not in the story but in the lousy story telling style that makes heavy use of off-screen voices to fill in the many gaps, and in the fact that jokes seldom exceed the level of the national or classes stereotypes double by some ‘Laurel and Hardy’ gags. As we are in the 21st century the effect is minimal.
(video source Movieclips Trailers)
Quite a pity I would say. The two actors deserve better films, together and separate. So do we, their faithful fans.