Mortdecai
Lionsgate | Release Date: January 23, 2015
3.6
USER SCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 222 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
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51
Mixed:
53
Negative:
118
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User scoreBy dateMost helpful
4
quincytheodoreFeb 16, 2015
There's an alarming trend of steady decline in quality of Johnny Deep's movies. He performs to his strength as quirky characters, but his recent movies haven't been optimal even with the help of talented cast. Mortdecai is probably the worstThere's an alarming trend of steady decline in quality of Johnny Deep's movies. He performs to his strength as quirky characters, but his recent movies haven't been optimal even with the help of talented cast. Mortdecai is probably the worst of the bunch, an insipid action comedy that fails in creating sophisticated humor, needlessly complicated and above all, dangerously boring.

Mortdecai (Johnny Deep) is a shady art dealer who allegedly dabbles on illegal activities. After several mishandled dealings he suffers quite a significant loss, which pushes him near the brink of bankruptcy. At the same time an art heist occurs, Mortdecai is serendipitously involved in the case. He uses this chance to slither a profit out of the situation. The premise is set for intellect crime with a touch of comedy, but it accomplishes neither as Mortdecai is too placid to be taken seriously and too dull to be amusing.

The movie also brings a strong line-up of actors, such as Paul Bettany, Ewan McGregor and Gwyneth Paltrow. However, the material makes their characters one dimensional. Script often invests too much on particular scenes or rehearses the same joke far too many times, while skimming on development of the case. It makes the pacing plods on some areas and leaves plot holes on the rest.

Dialogues are intricate, yet these suave words might not work and may even come off as shallow. It relies heavily on vulgar tone, but its funnier moments are from slapstick, much thanks to Deep and Bettany. Deep's staple appeal is from his exaggerated motion, he does try to personify Mortdecai but the character itself is too corny and lacking charisma. Paul Bettany is a flexible actor, bulk of his previous characters consist of brooding men, but he looks comfortable in a more relaxed persona even moonlighting as comedy relief.

It's hard to recommend Mortdecai, the movie, just like the character, is not as charming and clever as it thinks it is. Audience can probably get a few laughs if they set their expectation really low, but that shouldn't happen with such assembly of capable stars.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
HaithamBJan 25, 2015
"Mortdecai" (2015) has a sense of humor throughout but it does not feature enough laughs to qualify as "funny". It is entertaining yet disappointing with some kind of style, great ensemble cast but an indifferent plot.
5 of 10 users found this helpful55
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5
analogkid280Jan 27, 2015
A decent looking film that seems adequately directed. It just needed more jokes. I never felt more disconnected from such a nice looking movie as I have with this one.
3 of 7 users found this helpful34
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5
geedupApr 20, 2015
Depp's character is a rehashed Pirates of the Carribean accent, with the flare of Mr Bean facial contortions. Rare moments, thru the intensely-heavy dialogue, there were moments to chuckle.On the surface, chasing a round the world forDepp's character is a rehashed Pirates of the Carribean accent, with the flare of Mr Bean facial contortions. Rare moments, thru the intensely-heavy dialogue, there were moments to chuckle.On the surface, chasing a round the world for something sounds exciting, but in general the movie was not very interesting. There are times when quirky is funny and this movie was not.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
QuelhasFeb 15, 2015
Made me laugh, but its ability of doing so doesn't make it great. The plot is not so interesting, and the characters are predictable, and their actors don't surprise much on their acts as much as we already know from them. I left the movieMade me laugh, but its ability of doing so doesn't make it great. The plot is not so interesting, and the characters are predictable, and their actors don't surprise much on their acts as much as we already know from them. I left the movie theatre feeling entertained with the chuckles I had, but feeling that I'd just watched a poor movie in its content.

I miss Ichabod Crane (Sleepy Hollow), Dean Corso (The Ninth Gate), George Jung (Blow), and even Captain Jack Sparrow! Can't Johnny Depp surprise us anymore with an outstanding act?… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
NegolashSep 10, 2015
Most not-british british comedy. Despite nice actors - movie is boring, unfanny, bad in general. Things like this happens, when americans trying to do british humor.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
nilsyApr 26, 2015
The very definition of average.
This is the type of movie id recommend to a large group who just cant agree what to watch pick this movie and nobody gets their way yet its not to terrible and it has a wide appeal.
Or a quiet saturday/sundayThe very definition of average.
This is the type of movie id recommend to a large group who just cant agree what to watch pick this movie and nobody gets their way yet its not to terrible and it has a wide appeal.
Or a quiet saturday/sunday and you want to be lazy pick up a dvd of this (once its out) and it might make you smile if not laugh its not easy finding lighthearted comedy better then this sadly.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
Simpsons92May 9, 2015
Finally, i watched Mortdecai and i agree that is a low point to Deep's career, however i don't think it's that bad and it's probably my "guily pleasure", but The Lone Ranger or Transcendence were even worse...it reminds me of a british spyFinally, i watched Mortdecai and i agree that is a low point to Deep's career, however i don't think it's that bad and it's probably my "guily pleasure", but The Lone Ranger or Transcendence were even worse...it reminds me of a british spy movie and somehow Deep quickly reminded me of Rowan Atkinson. This movie is a little strange but i really have fun with some jokes, but another just simply were flat and obvious...I think the biggest problem with it is that the sequences were much longer and they just put some scenes unecessary that makes the story go slowly. I think people are only making this movie a disaster because of Deep, who as always and no matter the movie, is great but i want to see him as a real actor and not a caricature or a simple copy of Jack Sparrow, and the supporting actors like Paltrow, McGregor and especially Bettany are good additions...At the end, is not a disaster that many say, but i can understand because it has some fun but was stupid like that "balls scene" and even boring. All i can say is, it's forgettable but still enjoyable enough...… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
bigtunaonfilmMay 24, 2015
This movie is getting a bad rep from critics, but it is actually a very funny movie. It was not great from a technical aspect, but I found myself laughing in many parts, and even busting out laughing in some. I liked Paul Bettany and JeffThis movie is getting a bad rep from critics, but it is actually a very funny movie. It was not great from a technical aspect, but I found myself laughing in many parts, and even busting out laughing in some. I liked Paul Bettany and Jeff Goldblum, but everyone else was annoying. So check this out despite what critics say.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Astor_Jun 9, 2015
Reasonably okay movie, with funny scenes here and there. Conversation was noteworthy funny too. Not so much on character development apparently.

Worth a watch on TV I guess.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
RalfbergsDec 12, 2019
Nothing impressive. Falls out of memory quickly. I do not get such harsh ratings tho, but yeah, passes the time.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
DawdlingPoetNov 27, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a comedy crime film, a parody or satire of crime mystery films, featuring themes including fraud, forgery, russian criminals and the British aristocracy. Its very much a character driven film, with the titular character being very much a bizarre, eccentric sort. One of my first thoughts about it was that it seemed an exercise in sheer smugness by Depp (who plays Mortdecai). Certainly his character appears to have the upper hand. I can understand why it gets a bad crit but thankfully, for me personally, I found it to be one of the 'so zany its really quite amusing-ly good' type films. Put it this way - if you take the plot seriously and expect a 100% sharp and witty, original film, then I've little doubt you'll be disappointed but if your ok with watching a film with exaggerated characters, a definite predictability regarding plot development and your ok with some bizarre instances of toilet humour and the like, then you may also find this to be a relatively amusing and entertaining watch. I feared I wouldn't be bothered to watch the rest of it, by how cheesy and smug it seemed after the first twenty minutes or thereabouts but I did find myself **** with some of the truly random and bizarre subjects of humour, once it got going. One such example is a line referring to Mortdecai's collection of old cheeses being a 'weapon of biological warfare'. Its just as well there is no such thing as smell-o-vision in relation to films - well, not yet anyway!.

There is narration provided by various characters, all having a rather exaggerated accent (or dialect) but then most of the characters both look and sound somewhat exaggerated, in terms of their demographic (race/social class etc.). It does refer to stereotypes, having a definite 'go' at upper class English types. Mortdecai being the epitome of a British upper class aristocrat, full of airs and graces even in the most unlikely situations, I didn't much care for the character at the start of the film but as the plot (if slowly) developed, I started to warm to him somewhat. Partly why may be due to the fact that the character both provides narration at times (as mentioned earlier) and directly speaks to the audience/viewer at times, as if implying that he knows its all a bit silly and that he doesn't take the film seriously in the slightest. I think that if you take it too seriously, it'd be hard not to be appauled by the cringe-y accents and everything.

Cast wise, Johnny Depp plays the titular character, with his Jack Sparrow-esque suave, assertive and smug persona very much at the fore. In this comedy role, he almost comes across as a bit of a Jim Carrey type, in seeming quite hyperactive and enigmatic. He isn't entirely likeable, at first certainly but his eccentricity did end up with me warming to him somewhat. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Mortdecai's partner, Johanna, She does well at playing a hoity-toity housewife - it was amusing enough hearing her say 'the painting of the Duchess was in Bunny's loo!'. I also particularly enjoyed Ewan MacGregor, who played Martland, a police inspector. I quite enjoyed his character - his is a supporting role and his character is a bit less exaggerated compared to Mortdecai and Johanna. Other cast members present include Jeff Goldblum as Krampf (an art dealer), Paul Bettany as Mortdecais assisant, Jock and Olivia Munn as Georgina. Paul Whitehouse (of The Fast Show fame) also appears in a supporting role, as an italian car mechanic called Spinoza.

This film features some relatively good camerawork, with some quick and sharp movements and thus a variety of angles used to heighten the tension and make scenes seem quicker and flashier in general. The musical pieces played are fairly generic pieces, mostly incidental music, what you'd expect to hear in a crime/mystery film - mostly instrumental pieces, with strings and woodwind instruments, which add either/or a slightly spooky feel or a sense of slickness to the scene its played in.

As a parody/satire film this is certainly a pleasingly silly film - think of settings similar to The Grand Budapest Hotel, with the main character more remiscent of The Mask and storylines perhaps more like those of the Pink Panther films of a few decades back and you wouldn't be a million miles away. I suppose if I ignore my earlier mention of it relying on stereotypes and refer to the parody element, then you could say that its good at pointing fun at the upper classes but im not entirely sure if everyone would necessarily regard it as a parody as such.

Its certainly an easy watch (you don't need to pay a great deal of attention to it), its a silly watch, one that some may quite enjoy and some may find having their head in their hands while they cringe throughout. That depends on personal taste and suchlike but for me, I found it a relatively entertaining and amusing watch for the hour and three quarters running time it lasts for.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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