Not disappointing, but....
O Lucky Man! review
By
Kowalski
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10th December 2011
The follow up to 'If....' isn't disappointing but it isn't as good as the first film was. Again there is a stand-out performance by McDowell that alone would make the film worth watching, and it isn't let down by the host of well-known and recognisable actors who, with multiple roles, make up the rest of the cast. What I think was missing from this film was the level of social commentary that 'If....' displayed, meaning that the forays into fantasy that had been used to reinforce the issues raised in the real scenes in 'If....', didn't do so to such a degree in the sequel, leaving some scenes and developments looking more than a little self-indulgent.
That said, I think that more could be gained from this film with repeated viewings and a closer look at some of the devices used could reveal more meaning. For example, using actors to play multiple roles could be seen as merely a product of the Travis's imagination, or an attempt by Anderson to link the characters and what they represent, much as Caryl Churchill does in 'Top Girls'.
With a film of this length, though, such close repeated viewings would take a great deal of dedication. And spare time.
