The Tall Guy Details

Now that she's regarded as one of Hollywood's leading thespians, it's unlikely that you'll ever see Emma Thompson like this again. So make the most of this often hilarious comedy directed by Mel Smith and written pre-Four Weddings and a Funeral by Richard Curtis particularly the brilliant knockabout love scene with the gangling Jeff Goldblum. They work well together throughout the film, with her deadpan approach and his neuroses perfectly matched. The musical version of The Elephant Man is a master stroke and Rowan Atkinson's knowing send-up of his own image is both funny and generous. The plot wanders a little towards the end, but this is cosy, feel-good, if rather naive, fun.

"...Goldblum has the agility and the bug-eyed apprehension of a great clown....Goldblum is constantly perking himself into new realms of neuromuscular amazements. It's like watching a one-man slapstick ballet..."