Title – Mortdecai (2015)
Director – David Koepp (Stir of Echoes)
Cast – Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany, Olivia Mann, Jeff Goldblum
Plot – Art dealer and part time detective Charlie Mortdecai (Depp) with the help of his trusty sidekick Jock (Bettany) must track down a mysterious stolen painting that will hopefully solve his crumbling marriage to his beloved moustache hating wife Johanna (Paltrow).
“I will have you know that I am not an alcoholic. I am a drunk, and there is a vast difference”
Review by Eddie on 25/06/2015
I don’t often like to keep ongoing tallies in movies as I watch them, it seems like a little bit of a ‘naff” thing to do, but with Mortdecai I couldn’t help but keep a tally as it wasn’t a hard one to keep track of. The grand total of the times I laughed during David Koepp’s Pink Panther wannabe was – 0. Yes a big fat 0. A very sad tally for a so called comedy.
A critical and box office failure, every bad thing you’ve heard about Mortdecai is horrifically true, and if anything, some have been too kind to a film that completely fails to achieve anything it sets out to do, although one would question what anyone is doing here in the first place other than the fact the pay must have been too good to refuse.
A screenwriter of some renown and a director whose shown promise before with efforts like Secret Window and harmless popcorn munchers like Premium Rush, Koepp may find himself blacklisted from future productions with Mortdecai being an immaturely written, dreadfully unoriginal and downright offensively unintelligent piece of writing and directing. I’m sure I speak for everyone in saying that there’s nothing wrong with harmless fun or movies made to low common denominators but Mortdecai is surely playing a joke on all of us with its hijinks and it also marks a career low for many involved, finger pointed squarely at Johnny Depp when saying this.
Filled with cringe worthy moments and scenes that suggest the cast must’ve surely known what a turkey they were partaking in, this is without doubt 2015’s worst big screen ensemble. Depp has been falling for years now but his moustached art detective Charlie Mortdecai is an incredibly annoying and unlikeable creation. Depp’s fascination with playing things over the top has worked before but if there was ever an actor in need of some normality it’s him, this turn is almost as bad as his atrocious cameo in Kevin Smith’s Tusk, which for those who have not seen it, is no mean feat. Depp’s only foreseeable win is in the upcoming Black Mass, if that in turn fails, Depp is likely to become one of the greatest fall from grace stories in some time. Other’s in the picture like Ewan McGregor and Paul Bettany just look embarrassed, and not without reason, while the ever bland Gwyneth Paltrow surely won’t be showing this effort to her Apple or Moses in the future.
There are things worse than Mortedcai, but not a whole lot. While watching this film, the laugh tally stuck at zero, my mind wondered to what could be worse than enduring this charisma free, charmless affair and when the thought of being detained in Guantanamo Bay, being slowly nibbled to death by a large rat or heck, watching Paul Blart and it’s sequel back to back is more appealing than what lays before you, the true horrors of Mortedcai become all too apparent. This is so far the worst film of 2015 and it would take some serious beating to have its mantle taken away. Congratulations to all involved then.
0 dry reaches out of 5
Came here to see if its as bad as everyone says and I haven’t been disappointed! Yeah, Depp’s character sounds incredibly annoying. What was he thinking?!
Man I must admit I have no idea what he was thinking! His performance needs to be seen to be believed!
E
You’ve kinda made me want to watch it!
its worth it just to witness the horrors haha.
E
You’ve validated my skepticism, ‘Mordecai’ sounds awful … This wasn’t screened for media, so I’m yet to see it!
I reckon this bad boy should have all copies destroyed – its a blight on movie making.
E
Well, if you haven’t seen ‘Hot Pursuit’ yet … That’s another ripper!
Oh mate ha, not sure I can sit through that one. The thought of a comedic Reese Witherspoon is enough to kill that one for me.
E
It’s really quite deplorable!
Not as terrible as some may have made it out to be. But still pretty bad all the same. Nice review Eddie.
Reblogged this on Eclectic Pursuits.
The rating alone was worth the like and comment! Haha… Now I’ll actually read the post and probably love it. Haha…
Hhaha nice bro. I must admit this is my first 0 in a long long time! it just failed at everything it tried to do.
E
As expected, I loved it!! Haha… So glad there are other people to watch the really bad films for me.
In this case I wish I wasn’t that person lol.
E
So would you rather watch this one again or Winter’s Tale?? =)
Oh shudders haha, I would have to pick Winters Tale – at least I can laugh at Will Smith and Colin Farrels hair do.
E
Love the post. Come check out and follow crushingfilm.com
Cheers Hammer.
E
This review entertained me more than the movie, lmao. I couldn’t even finish it.
Why good to hear mrg1106 although with this movie that is not to much of an effort haha 🙂
E
This movie was so bad. I don’t understand what is Johnny Depp doing with his career…
His taking the money and running I think.
E
I would like to thank you for watching this so I don’t have to. Everything abut the trailer made me depressed. I think Depp is imploding even Tim Burton isn’t casting him anymore.
I had to see what all the fuss was about and I regret my curiosity haha.
E
Brilliant. Love a 0 review as much as a 5!
This was the rawest 0 I can give dude, so so so so bad.
E
A 0 is much better than a 5, reviews of films like this are more fun to read than – “I loved it” reviews.
I hope to not give to many more 0’s out in my time, this was one arduous journey.
E
Yeah, the issue with giving something a 0 is that you have to have seen it…
What is Paul Bettany doing in a film like this?
Must be between his schedule for the Avengers I reckon.
E
Just the trailer looked like another of Johnny’s faux pas. If it’s anything like ‘The Tourist’, which killed me, then I’ll make sure to avoid this like the plague.
It’s the Tourist mate but about twice as worse.
E
If only they gave awards for suicidal career moves. In all honesty, if Nicolas Cage can get away with the films and acting he’s done in the past, I’m sure Depp will be fine.
No surprise about your rating of this movie. I hoped it would be decent, but deep inside I knew it wouldn’t be. Thanks for writing the review and sitting through it.
It’s not an easy one to endure buddy.
E
Ouch. Lol j
I just read that Depp is playing that character again from Tusk in another new Kevin Smith movie=(
That is not good!
E
Surprised at Koepp for lending his name to this.
Mate he should be ashamed of himself.
E
I totally agree I was so disappointed almost as much as I was with Birdman the trailers looked so funny but clearly another skill of film editing trickery Depp was much better playing characters in films like Benny and Joon and fear and loathing even captain Jack Sparrow made me laugh more than this spot on review guys X
Yeh this was a seriously unfunny movie and role for Depp! He needs a hit badly.
E
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I was lounging around this morning, reviewing some of your reviews, and went on a Johnny Depp thingie, when I came across this line: “There are things worse than Mortedcai, but not a whole lot.” I love it and vow to use it in the future, where applicable, and give you due credit. Thank you for a good morning laugh.
No worries China! Glad to make your morning.
E
Oh, I forgot to add that I could not make it past 20 minutes of this film. (Film? Is that correct? Was this a film?) Bad, well beyond the point of “so bad it is actually good.” Sorry to say that too. Always rooting for Johnny to pull off another great one. Sigh.
I am surprised I made it through this one actually but I just had to see if it got worse.
E
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