The British farce gets the Kino Lorber treatment
Back in 1988 A Fish Called Wanda hit out theaters, a hit with fans and critics alike with its crime caper plot fueled by Pythonesque humor and romance. Thus a new wave of British farcical comedies hit the screens riding off its success, one such film being Blame it on the Bellboy, a film that is still doing it if you check out the release synopsis. Despite an outstanding cast, it’s an altogether sillier affair, but one I still have fond memories of enjoying in my youth. New on Blu-ray this month thanks to Kino Lorber, you have the chance to see if it deserves to be spoken in the same breath as the John Cleese classic.
Synopsis:
Mix-ups, Mishaps, Madness and Mayhem… It’s all part of the service! In the wildly entertaining spirit of A Fish Called Wanda, Blame It on the Bellboy delivers crazy laughs. The hilarity kicks off when a daffy bellboy (Bronson Pinchot, Perfect Strangers) accidentally switches the itinerary envelopes for three guests. His actions cause a hilarious case of mistaken identities, sending the trio down the road of nonstop comic adventures. Check in today for a zany time with a stellar cast that includes Dudley Moore (Arthur), Bryan Brown (F/X), Richard Griffiths (Withnail and I), Andreas Katsulas (The Fugitive), Patsy Kensit (Lethal Weapon 2), Alison Steadman (Life Is Sweet) and Penelope Wilton (Shaun of the Dead). Written and directed by Mark Herman (Brassed Off, Hope Springs).
Simply put, Blame it on the Bellboy is no Wanda. It’s an altogether sillier affair, an old-fashioned comedy based on the simplest of things, mistaken identity. Businessman Melvyn Orton (Dudley Moore), hit man Mike Lorton (Bryan Brown), and vacationer/adulterer Maurice Horton (Richard Griffiths), are all in Venice, all at the same hotel, with the same bellboy (Bronson Pinchot) who can’t pronounce the letter H. Think Hoooooooooorton or Orrton. You can already imagine the potential for changing up these folks, but throw in a love interest, a wife, and an Italian crime family, and you take things up a few more notches. All the while you have the bellboy throwing further fuel on the fire with his continued fuckuppery.
It adheres to much of the formula you’d expect from the genre, ramping up the confusion and fallout, but the comedy is subverted by a somewhat melancholic mood. These characters are all people working through issues, be it marital, financial, existential, or something else. If that wasn’t enough, what unfolds puts some of them through quite mean spirited, even tortuous experiences for the sake of humor. This isn’t just a turn of phrase; the film actually depicts genital shock treatment. Bellboy also goes straight past bawdy at times and right into seedier fare with a smutty prostitution turn for one character. It’s not all problematic characters and plot points; Brown and Wilton (Shaun’s mum!) are rather tender together and give the film some much needed sweetness at times. Music, snappy cuts, and a short running time all help keep up the farcical pace. But it’s not enough to elevate the lowbrow and darker portions that sink the mood.
The Package
Having only ever seen the film on VHS previously, this is a far more impressive presentation. However, by modern standards, it’s nothing overly special. Image clarity is generally good, but there is an overly processed feel, with some loss of definition, and a subdued palette. Special features are limited to a theatrical trailer.
The Bottom Line
Despite what the promo material says, this is no A Fish Called Wanda. Blame it on the Bellboy heartily embraces the breezy, farcical structure and feel, but it also weaves in moments that are far darker in tone that throw off the whole endeavor. A talented and game cast give it their all, but it’s not enough to pull this one back.
Blame it on the Bellboy is available on Blu-ray via Kino Lorber from September 4th, 2018.