A Bunch of Amateurs Details

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[Highly rated reviewer]

superb.......................

this film is superb. Jefferson Steel (played by Burt Reynolds) is a vain and egotistical former Hollywood star, out of work and unable to cope with his fall from the A-list.

In a last ditch attempt to revive Jefferson’s career, his incompetent agent (played by Charles Durning) stumbles upon the perfect role - a prestigious run as King Lear at a theatre in Stratford.

Arriving in England, Jefferson discovers to his horror that the Stratford in question is not '-upon-Avon' but in Suffolk, and that his co-stars are not members of the Royal Shakespeare Company, but the local amateur dramatic society.

Jefferson is stuck according to him in ‘Stratford-on-Pigfarm’, but continuing press interest means he has to see it through.

There follows a hilarious clash of cultures, as Jefferson struggles to adapt to the sleepy English village and his star struck host, Mary (played by Imelda Staunton).

Jefferson is stuck in a world without egg-white frittatas, guava juice, hot tubs and personal trainers.

He must learn to put his ego aside and learn to work with the village community.

Well worth watching !

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Mostly Harmless

This is a very British film, but nowhere near the finest examples of the type. Its all rather predictable, whilst watchable in a gentle and mosty harmless kind of way. The main weakness is actually Reynolds - who is far better at playing Shakespeare badly than well. Nothing in his closing performances suggests the stage presence the script alleges he has and he is acted off the stage by all the hammy British amateurs.