Pretentious and depressive Comedy? This is about as funny as a double feature of Macbeth and Hamlet, but with more drama... The film chronicles the very British and very neurotic marital relationship of the two main characters. Both Broadbent and Duncan deliver good performances, but it's the script that spoils it all.I confess to not being British enough, nor neurotic enough, to identify with the characters... perhaps some people might find their situation interesting; I found it irritating. The characters are irritated with each other, constantly criticizing and complaining about everything; theirs is a textbook neurotic relationship, in which they get their kicks out of the sado-masochistic interactions they have with each other. All in all, a wonderful theme for a marriage counselors convention, but hardly a comedy, not even a "dramatic comedy"... There is nothing to smile about.
And it's all so boringly predictable... They arrive at the same hotel in which they had their honeymoon 30 years earlier. Naturally, it doesn't look the same (like their marriage...), the rooms have been painted in a different color, and Meg hates it. Off she runs, with pathetic Nick trailing after her and, throwing money repeatedly at a cab driver (what symbolism: money is no object, we're just throwing it away!...) directly to the Plaza Athenée, the most expensive hotel in Paris, where she gives them their passports and credit card, saying literally: "money is no object". When the hotel receptionist tells them that the hotel is fully booked, they moan about taking the Eurostar back to London... As if there would be no other hotel room available in Paris: it's either their honeymoon two-star place of 30 years ago, or the Plaza Athenée... Nothing else will do.
That's when my irritation went over my threshold and I found it difficult to engage with the characters.
Even more predictably, on they go to visit... the Pére Lachaise cemetery, symbolizing their own failed marriage and their lives coming to an end. And the trip was supposed to be an attempt to revive their relationship?...
It gets worse: at a dinner in an ex-pupil's home, when the host makes a beautiful speech thanking Nick for being an inspiring mentor, Nick retorts with a speech of his own stating that actually his life is over, he's been sacked by the university and his wife does not love him, he is a complete failure. Meg later tells him that his speech was brilliant... It seems to fit into the overall self commiseration that characterizes their lifestyle.
I can understand all of it as an accurate description of a neurotic relationship... Just forgive me for not being excited about it. And please, please... do not bill this as a comedy!