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A Bunch Of Amateurs (2008)

Director: Andy Cadiff

Time Out rating

Average user rating

29 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

A Hollywood has-been slums it in an amateur British production: it’s a description that covers both plot and film in this amiable but scattershot comedy. Burt Reynolds is Jefferson Steel, a pampered action star desperate to make a comeback. He accepts an offer to do Shakespeare in Stratford, little knowing that it’s not upon Avon, but the (fictional) village of Stratford St John in Suffolk.

Naturally, the amateur theatre group is in raptures about the arrival of their LA King Lear, but the man himself is less than enthused about acting alongside pig farmers and staying in a B&B with no ensuite facilities. It’s a reasonably amusing idea, and the script duly has fun with the contrasts between LA-la land and sleepy Suffolk. Steel pops his shoes outside his bedroom door only for a dog to chew on them. Later, the local mobile library is hurriedly transformed into a makeshift trailer.

Such antics raise a smile, but no belly laughs. Those are reserved soley for Imelda Staunton, who puts in a jolly performance as the owner of the B&B and Steel’s biggest fan. Derek Jacobi also acts a bland Reynolds off the screen in a no-brainer role as a Shakesperian purist. But the story is completely preposterous, as anyone with a passing knowledge of Hollywood and agents (ie 'Entourage' viewers) will know. It’s also hastily edited and, in places, poorly cast. The talents of Staunton, Jacobi and love interest Samantha Bond aside, the title may be more accurate than originally intended.

Author: Anna Smith

Time Out London Issue 2000/2002, 18-31 December, 2008

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User reviews of this film

Mariflor said...

Posted on Dec 30 2011 02:39 Loved it from head to toe!

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Jonny said...

Posted on Jan 13 2011 22:13 Godawful drudge of a film that wastes Staunton and Jacobi. It's like an unfunny Vicar of Dibley. Every scene is ham acting, the "Sleepy Suffolk" angle is contrived to the point of tedium and Samantha Bond should never 'act' on our screens again. The sort of film that makes you want to have a bash at writing a comedy yourself, 'cos if they'll splash money on that......

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Ron said...

Posted on Oct 17 2010 18:04 de gustibus non est disputandum and all that, but Time Out should read the rave reviews above and then cast about to re-locate its sense of fun. A wonderful movie. Full stop.

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Peter said...

Posted on Aug 04 2010 00:10 A great light hearted comedy that reminds you that life can still feel good. ignore the haters, this is an entertaining night in.

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Nick B said...

Posted on Mar 09 2010 22:29 Just watched this on DVD with my partner - we both enjoyed it = agree wi th a lot of the above - funny and a feelgood film - slightly Ealing Comedyish - reminded of me of the Titfiled Thunderbolt - slightly preposterous but highly amusing and a few laughs. Thought Reynolds improved as it went on - a pleasing way to spend a couple of hours

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James Apps said...

Posted on Jan 16 2010 20:22 I watched this film in a small theatre cinema in Sittingbourne and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was caught up in the story and saw the loose similarities between Lear on stage with the players and Reynolds haughty, disengaged Lear which was a delightful device that contrasted the plot. I enjoyed the laughs, which were many and yet liked the story which had enough emotion in it to draw a empathatic tear. Reynolds' acting was superb with that tongue in cheek approach he often makes to his parts yet still shows a master at work. To say the film is poor, the acting is bad or it is mis-cast misses the point of the movie which relies on the main character's miscasting. We must remember that comedy should be a little over the top but at the same time be credible; this move has life and wholesome fun and does not either ram home the kokes nor does it lose the opportunity to make them. In all a most enjoyable experience on a par with another favorite - Cookie's Fortune - which I will add to my collection.

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Don said...

Posted on Jan 02 2010 20:53 Superb film. A classic british feel good movie with lots of laughs just like the old ealing comedies. Nice to see a movie that has clearly learnt from the best of british TV comedy and which is not too stuck up to have fun. I thought Burt Reynolds was great despite other comments on this site. The rest of the cast, including minor roles, were highly enjoyable, again despite the views of other reviewers.
This film proves we Brits love Shakespeare, but we love good quality daft comedy such as this as well.

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Michelle said...

Posted on Sep 13 2009 20:22 Very predictable and not funny enough to make you even crack a smile

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andy b said...

Posted on Aug 13 2009 22:39 After a slightly shaky start, with an obviously aged Burt R shuffling about, I feared the worst but it picked up a little once we were over here in the company of some English thesps. I may have imagined layers of subtlety in the film that aren't there, but I thought it was wonderful and I had tears in my eyes during the last reel. I read a little about BR and his chat shows/one man shows and theatre work and am forced to realise he's more versatile than he would normally be given credit for. Any film that takes you out of yourself into another world for 90 minutes does what it says on the tin; this is one of those and is a film well worth watching.

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phil the moviegoer said...

Posted on May 08 2009 08:52 I thought the film was super from beginning to end. No dull boring bits to sit through. I was laughing all the way through the film and so was the rest of the audience and it takes a lot to get me laughing. Okay the plot was a bit unreal but so are many film plots.It was a real feelgood film and just the sort of entertainment we need.

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Peter said...

Posted on Apr 23 2009 16:49 A surprising range of reviews above. Perhaps this has something to do with age. I loved this gentle film with its interesting scenario and quiet humour. Of course the story was ludicrous but you could say that about "Harry Potter". I watched this in a cinema in a small market town. 220 people laughed loudly throughout the programme and stood to applaud at the end. Is this a usual response to modern cinema? Very much in the style of the old Ealing comedies but perhaps with more depth than some of your critics give credit. The film proved the point it was making - Burt Reynolds cannot play Shakespear!

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martincj said...

Posted on Feb 20 2009 18:28 I enjoyed the film rather in the way I enjoyed Mamma Mia, not because it was a good film, but because it had pace and fun. Most of the characters were caricatures: ludicrous cliches, in fact, especially Burt Reynolds and Derek Jacobi. However, as with MM maybe the cliches were the whole point!

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laura said...

Posted on Feb 13 2009 22:15 This was a very funny film with a fantastic performance from Imelda staunton in particular. Knowing the story of King Lear I could see the clever way the story mirrored the Shakespear play. Burt reynolds did liik a bit stiff but this worked for the most part as that was his character in the film.I had a good laugh and would recommend the film. Oh, and the scenery of the Isle of man is lovely to look at too.

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Ian said...

Posted on Jan 14 2009 23:35 A very enjoyable film with a lot of laughs from top-notch British actors.

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Rowena Preston said...

Posted on Jan 14 2009 23:28 A hugely enjoyable film...very amusing and extremely well acted.I love films that are set in English villages! Add actors such as Imelda Staunton, Samantha Bond and Derek Jacobi, and you can't fail to enjoy, even if the story is a little far-fetched.Fantastic entertainment!

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