Don Quixote

Most helpful review Don Quixote

• A cheap and unsatisfying production

   

  By Philip Concannon from London , 14 Nov 2004

  [Highly rated reviewer]

  The story that defeated Orson Welles and Terry Gilliam is brought to life in this standard TV-movie. John Lithgow is the deluded old man who, entranced by the stories of great knights, re-invents himself as the heroic Don Quixote. With his sidekick Sancho Panza(Bob Hoskins) in tow, Quixote seeks out great adventures and is soon spotting danger in the most innocuous of situations.
  
  Although everyone involved in this adaptation of Cervantes' novel is obviously enthusiastic and determined to do justice to the story, the film never finds its feet. Journeyman director Peter Yates lacks the ability to develop any kind of narrative momentum or consistent tone. The film simply drags itself from one half-baked situation to another, ticking off Quixote's adventures in a repetetive manner. Yates and screenwriter John Mortimer adopt a tone of bland farce for most of the film, mocking Quixote's delusions rather than celebrating his imagination.
  
  The film suffers from a number of other serious problems. The special effects, even for a low-budget production such as this, are awful. As a result, Yates' decision to portray Quixote's visions in a literal way is a massive misjudgement with some embarrassing results.
  
  The saving grace of 'Don Quixote' is the central pairing of John Lithgow and Bob Hoskins. They make for a warm and funny odd couple and are always watchable. The rest of the cast are wooden and forgettable, and sporting a distracting array of accents.
  
  The cheesy effects, poor pacing and general lack of imagination make this yet another disappointing version of 'Don Quixote'. A novel still awaiting the definitive adaptation.

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