SPOILERS Everyone knows Hollywood can't do history. Often altering facts to suit a plot, nothing is sacred. Pete Richens and Peter Richardson know this and resurrecting an old idea originally done in 1982's "The Comic Strip Presents", the two teamed up to write a film poking fun at it. Creating an 84 minute long film entitled "Churchill: The Hollywood Years", the two men managed to get a wide array of British talent to work along with major stars Christian Slater and Neve Campbell to spoof Hollywood's ideals. Sadly though, this film, whilst occasionally jaw numbing in it's hilarity, is just one long joke which goes stale after the first 10 minutes and should have been made as a half an hour special instead.
Imagine the British Government changed history after the second World War. Hiring an actor called Roy Bubbles to play leader Winston Churchill, they hid that Churchill was actually an American Marine (Christian Slater). This fact has remained hidden until now and in "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" we finally learn the truth.
The general idea for "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" is a wonderful idea. A spoof of historical films, for the first ten minutes you do genuinely find yourself in tears of laughter at the idea that Hollywood could create such a film. Unfortunately though, then the film continues for another 74 minutes.
That's not to say that we aren't still given some joyous moments as the film progresses. David Schneider as Goebels is a particular favourite, as is Phil Cornwell as evil blonde Nazi Martin Boorman. Unfortunately though Schneider is only on screen briefly and Cornwell is not present constantly.
As far as regular cast go, Christian Slater does a good job as Churchill. Never taking himself seriously, he runs around with his top off saving the day. Neve Campbell as well as Princess Elizabeth is equally as good. Presenting the Princess as wanting to help the war effort but naive, her accent might be slightly infuriating at times, but mostly she successfully portrays the Hollywood equivalent of the current Queen.
The problem though is that like the plot in general, so many actors are wasted with one line jokes. Antony Sher as Hitler is well up to the task, but because of the limitations on options, he never really shines like he can. The same is true of Miranda Richardson as Eva Braun, Rik Mayall as a British officer, Leslie Phillips as Nazi sympathiser Lord W'ruff and Steve Pemberton as Elizabeth's servant Chester. All are renowned actors who can perform admirably, but none are really given the chance.
Perhaps the biggest sufferer in "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" though is Harry Enfield. Playing King George VI, Enfield is well up to the task of being the deaf old King. Unfortunately, both for Enfield, the film and Britain as a whole, the real life equivalent of George V is not that well known to people. Whilst obviously everyone will know who Hitler, Churchill and Elizabeth are, few people are going to actually remember George. The old King was on the throne through the entire War but died in 1952. Whilst there are still many people who were alive at the time, it's incredibly unlikely that the probable audiences of this film will know much about him. This is in itself a shame since history is important, but it feels likely for this film.
As well as the irony that certain real historical figures might not be that well known to target audiences, the major problem with "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" is just that it grows old too fast. Funny for it's first 10 minutes, the film soon drifts off into repeating the same joke over and over. It probably will have been better as a short sketch on a television programme. Still, nice idea, shame it didn't work.
Imagine the British Government changed history after the second World War. Hiring an actor called Roy Bubbles to play leader Winston Churchill, they hid that Churchill was actually an American Marine (Christian Slater). This fact has remained hidden until now and in "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" we finally learn the truth.
The general idea for "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" is a wonderful idea. A spoof of historical films, for the first ten minutes you do genuinely find yourself in tears of laughter at the idea that Hollywood could create such a film. Unfortunately though, then the film continues for another 74 minutes.
That's not to say that we aren't still given some joyous moments as the film progresses. David Schneider as Goebels is a particular favourite, as is Phil Cornwell as evil blonde Nazi Martin Boorman. Unfortunately though Schneider is only on screen briefly and Cornwell is not present constantly.
As far as regular cast go, Christian Slater does a good job as Churchill. Never taking himself seriously, he runs around with his top off saving the day. Neve Campbell as well as Princess Elizabeth is equally as good. Presenting the Princess as wanting to help the war effort but naive, her accent might be slightly infuriating at times, but mostly she successfully portrays the Hollywood equivalent of the current Queen.
The problem though is that like the plot in general, so many actors are wasted with one line jokes. Antony Sher as Hitler is well up to the task, but because of the limitations on options, he never really shines like he can. The same is true of Miranda Richardson as Eva Braun, Rik Mayall as a British officer, Leslie Phillips as Nazi sympathiser Lord W'ruff and Steve Pemberton as Elizabeth's servant Chester. All are renowned actors who can perform admirably, but none are really given the chance.
Perhaps the biggest sufferer in "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" though is Harry Enfield. Playing King George VI, Enfield is well up to the task of being the deaf old King. Unfortunately, both for Enfield, the film and Britain as a whole, the real life equivalent of George V is not that well known to people. Whilst obviously everyone will know who Hitler, Churchill and Elizabeth are, few people are going to actually remember George. The old King was on the throne through the entire War but died in 1952. Whilst there are still many people who were alive at the time, it's incredibly unlikely that the probable audiences of this film will know much about him. This is in itself a shame since history is important, but it feels likely for this film.
As well as the irony that certain real historical figures might not be that well known to target audiences, the major problem with "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" is just that it grows old too fast. Funny for it's first 10 minutes, the film soon drifts off into repeating the same joke over and over. It probably will have been better as a short sketch on a television programme. Still, nice idea, shame it didn't work.