Withnail and I

Plot: In 1969, two unemployed actors living on booze and drugs in a filthy London flat. Heading out to the countryside for the weekend they encounter Withnail’s Flamboyantly Gay Uncle Monty, a violent poacher, and some other rural characters.

Actors: Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann

Pros: Supporting characters, Witty script, Richard Grant
Cons: Too Long, Profanity & Drug use, Paul McGann too bland

Full of funny lines, "Withnail and I" is a British Combination "Leaving Las Vegas" and "The Big Lewbowski". There is no real plot and film focuses on the misadventures of the two leads with some funny supporting characters. Richard Griffiths steals the movie as the eccentric Uncle Monty, while the deadpan Ralph Brown is delightful as their friend/drug dealer. But the movie has its sad and dull moments. Withnail himself is not a funny drunk, and is often profane and obnoxious while the McGann character (I) can be bland or hysterical.

Note: Even though there are no women in the film, the two lead characters are not Gay.

Summary: Rated highly by the critics, I found "Withnail and I" mostly funny but sometimes over-the-top and tedious. No doubt some of the British humor went over my head. Rating ***