The Revengers' Comedies (1998)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Malcolm Mowbray

Writers:

Alan Ayckbourn (play)
Malcolm Mowbray (writer)

Release Date:

19 June 1998 (Brazil)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Getting Even... Just Got Even Funnier!

Plot:

Depressed businessman Henry Bell and aristocrat Karen Knightly save each other's lives one night when they are ready to jump off London's Tower Bridge...

Plot Keywords:

Maid | Motor Bike | Secretary | Sports Car | Shooting

Cast

Sam Neill	...	Henry Bell
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Karen Knightly
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Imogen Staxton-Billing
Rupert Graves	...	Oliver Knightly
Martin Clunes	...	Anthony Staxton-Billing
Steve Coogan	...	Bruce Tick
John Wood	...	Col. Marcus
Liz Smith	...	Winnie
Anita Dobson	...	Daphne Teal
Charlotte Coleman	...	Norma
Adrian Scarborough	...	Percy Cutting
Sandra Reinton	...	Hilary Tick
Zoe Hilson	...	Lydia
Jamie O'Brien	...	Damien Tick
François Domange	...	Wine Waiter

Also Known As:

Amour, vengeance et trahison (France)
Sweet Revenge (USA) (cable TV title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language, sex-related material, and violence.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:LH | France:U | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Tower Bridge, London, England, UK

Company:

Artisan Films

Trivia:

This movie counts the second time Helena Bonham Carter and Rupert Graves have played sister and brother. They previously portrayed siblings 'Lucy and Freddy Honeychurch' in 'A Room with a View'(1986).

Movie Connections:

References Strangers on a Train (1951)

Soundtrack:

Relax

A smart British comedy. Helena Bonham Carter steals the show.

British humor is distinctly different from American humor and this film illustrates that point nicely. American humor hits you with a sledgehammer, with outrageous gags and extremely explicit content. British humor is full of innuendo, irony and subtlety. It is thoughtful wit, full of `aha!' moments. This is why Americans often refer to British humor as being dry, mostly because we don't like pondering over our comedy. We prefer a guffaw to a good snicker.

In this film, Karen (Helena Bonham Carter) and Henry (Sam Neill) meet one night on a bridge where they both went to commit suicide. Henry is interrupted from jumping by the cries of Karen who has botched her attempt. After he saves her, they commiserate and decide that getting revenge would be better than committing suicide. They make a pact where each of them agrees to even the score for the other with their respective objects of contempt.

Karen becomes a secretary to Henry's old boss (Steve Coogan) and proceeds to make his life a living hell, convincing his wife he is having an affair. Henry's target is Imogen (Kristen Scott Thomas), whom Karen hates because she stole her husband back from Karen, with whom he was having an affair. The film is replete with highbrow humor that you would only see in an English film. There is plenty of class-warfare comedy poking fun at the aristocracy.

Helena Bonham Cater is brilliantly droll as the diabolical Karen. She is deliciously evil as she cunningly plots Bruce's demise. Long known as a terrific dramatic actor, Bonham Carter shows here that she can convert that energy into an intensely offbeat and funny character with equal impact. Sam Neill is also entertaining as Henry, a bumbling victim of fate who allows himself to be swept along by circumstances. Kristin Scott Thomas does a superb job of portraying Imogen, a woman steeped in affectation and arrogance, who ultimately becomes a casualty of love.

This highly entertaining film requires a certain refined sense of humor to enjoy. I rated it an 8/10. It will lack punch for the average viewer, but for the viewer who enjoys subtlety and irony it will be amusing and enjoyable.