Film

Withnail & I (1986)

Director: Bruce Robinson

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

A recent, laddish DVD release of Bruce Robinson’s hilarious and poignant film – complete with a ‘drinking game’ among the extras – proved that an embarrassing fanboy approach threatens to cloud the genuine worth of this unrivalled British comedy, which is being re-released under the ‘Summer of British Film’ banner. Set in London at the close of the ’60s, the film sports a biting script from writer-director Bruce Robinson and performances from Richard E Grant and Paul McGann as two ‘resting’ actors, Withnail and ‘I’, that neither has surpassed. There’s much to like: the pair’s ‘matter’-infested Camden flat; Withnail’s hysterical rants; Richard Griffiths’ endearing turn as Withnail’s sad uncle; the balance between arrogance and paranoia, humour and sincerity; the final, tender goodbye between the pair in front of London Zoo’s wolves. The wit is sharp – ‘They don’t like me being on the stage’, moans Withnail of his family; ‘Then they must be delighted with your career,’ bites back ‘I’ – and the lament to times past, friendships gone and experiences lost is affecting.

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