Mindhorn (2016)

I'll tell you why so serious

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Not the worst movie ever, and it's less than an hour and a half long. It raises an occasional wry smile. Enough praise, on with the review. I suppose the younger set, who this movie is aimed at, may not have seen these comedy cliches before, but for anyone else, everything here is recycled from as far back as (in my memory anyway) Benny Hill and Tony Hancock. Skitting an Eighties sci-fi/detective series (a sort of Bergerac/Six Million Dollar Man mash-up) is shooting fish in the proverbial barrel. The deluded, cocksure hero, thinking he's a hit with the ladies, but paunchy and pathetic, is a standard character. And the strong, sensible female lead (ironically given very little of note to do) is becoming a hackneyed trope too. The most annoying thing about the recent wave of Brit comedies and TV shows is that it's the same cosy little cartel of comics and actors, seemingly more intent on making each other laugh than the audience. This just more of the same.

How to describe Mindhorn......take the Six Million Dollar Man, Magnum PI and Knight Rider....smash them all together then wrap it in a self destructive narcissistic washed up actor. That would best describe Richard Thorncraft played by Julian Barrett of The Mighty Boosh fame.Barrett doesn't stray far from his Boosh character Howard Moon in terms of self depreciation. The only difference is Thorncraft is an overly egotistical opportunist always on the lookout for a big comeback.I won't give away too may details but in spite of the movie reveling in being a silly parody, it does allow you to witness Thorncraft go on a journey of humility, forgiveness and redemption even if it is done in a comical way. The laughs are done almost 100% at Thorncraft's expense and you may find yourself alternating between laughing at him and feeling sympathetic towards his character. If nothing else it's a refreshing break from the standard comedic fare we are inundated with these days.

I have very low comedy standards, I'm old, I'm a man, I'm white, I'm English,I love everyone in this; I must be the target audience. Others have described the plot, it's a good idea and works well, everyone in it is convincing and acts very well. The big problem for me is that it just isn't laughing-style funny; it's sad funny but not in the subtle and heartfelt way that Alan Partridge or David Brent are.I enjoyed it but don't go thinking it'll make you chuckle much.

Well I enjoyed this movie from start to finish. It probably isn't for everyone, e.g. if you are too old or too young or from another planet. But if you remember British cop dramas from the 70s and 80s – with a bit of Starsky and Hutch thrown in (and if you have a sense of humour) then you should find some real laugh-out-loud moments here. I found it great, light-hearted, rather slapstick fun, and I will enjoy seeing this again some day.