#REVIEW: “MORTDECAI”

Revuew by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

Mortdecai is a whimsical Movie that was made perhaps 20 years too late. The Movie falls into the realms of  classic Pink Panther mixed with the ridiculousness of Mr. Magoo. The Story behind Mortdecai may be something that has been done before, but it is the chemistry shared between Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany, which make this Adventure rib-splittingly fun.

The Movie focuses on Charlie Mortdecai (Johnny Depp) and his Sidekick Jock (Paul Bettany), as Martland (Ewan McGregor) tasks Mortdecai with finding the Goya, a Painting that has been missing since the early 14th century,  by a legendary Spanish Artist. Not only is the Painting extremely valuable but the legend surrounding it is that a Nazi Leader had it commissioned during the War and before capture,  writing his bank account number on the back it, meaning millions in fortunes for the Lucky One to discover it. The problem is, Emil (Jonny Pasvolsky)  also happens to be on the hunt for the Goya.  Hence, Mortdecai and Jock travel the world everywhere from London to Russia and Los Angeles to find  the coveted Painting.

Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany are perfect together, making us wonder why it is they weren’t paired sooner. It is Bettany however who  manages to steal the show and deliver the laughs while Depp often instigates the Comic Relief by getting them into situations. The laughter and sheer absurdity between Depp and Gwenyth Paltrow as Johanna is great, and a running joke which keeps giving is her repulsion with Mortdecai‘s trademark “dead thing”, his mustache.

David Koepp who is responsible for Gems like Premium Rush, Ghost Town and Secret Window, has done it once again turning something outlandish to completely engaging and enjoyable. However for Screenwriter Eric Aronson, his second outing seems to still lack a little the punch, although its over-the-top ways give us that much needed lift amidst these Winter Blues.

eOne Films release Mortdecai Friday, January 23, 2015.