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A Bunch of Amateurs

2008 1h 36m Comedy List
Reviews 43% Audience Score 250+ Ratings
Washed-up Hollywood star Jefferson Steel (Burt Reynolds) is deceived by his agent into playing King Lear in an amateur community production in a small English town. Expecting a suite at a fancy hotel, the actor finds himself lodging in a bed and breakfast. Steel's arrogance and pretensions barely allow him to conform to such indignities as rehearsing Shakespeare in a barn. But, among the enthusiastic locals, he slowly comes to rethink some of his assumptions and look at life in a whole new way. Read More Read Less

Critics Reviews

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David Stratton At the Movies (Australia) There's something faintly embarrassing watching fading movie star BURT REYNOLDS, who looks embalmed, playing fading movie star Jefferson Steel, and something even more embarrassing when we're asked to accept that he makes a resounding success as Lear. Rated: 2/5 Oct 9, 2009 Full Review Louise Keller Urban Cinefile Overcooked to the point of being burnt, this total misfire in which Burt Reynolds' ageing has-been Hollywood actor finds himself in an amateur production of King Lear in England, is a fish-out-of-water comedy gone badly wrong. Oct 2, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member This film is brilliant if taken with a tongue in cheek attitude to the wonderful cheesy world of amateur theatre. It is a superb send up of a world that I have been immersed in for over 60 years. Love the amateur theatre? You'll adore this! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Gentle and funny. An unexpected pleasure Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member As an American who has lived in the UK for 30 years and is a member of a English amateur theatre group (Maskers) I found this hilarious! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Standard Britcom stuff - but made watchable by Derek Jacobi and some nice references to King Lear. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member What could have been an enjoyable fish out of water English comedy is let down by a ridiculously low budget and dire acting from Reynolds. He doesn't seem to be awake for the whole film and there is none of the charisma he gave to most of his roles in the 70's and 80's (or even 'Boogie Nights'). It was a nice idea to use an actual ageing action star to play the role of an ageing action star but because Reynolds can't be bothered to put the effort in there's no way you'd believe he could pull off the role of Lear successfully. This isn't helped by the fact that he's surrounded by much better stage actors like Jacobi and Staunton who at least put some effort into their paper thin roles. Bond is also good but the faint romance sub-plot with Reynolds comes to nothing as they have no chemistry between them. Don't both with these bunch of amateurs! Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member More worthy Brit comedy. Burt Reynolds could be better, but the rest of the cast do a good job with a lame tale. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Bunch of Amateurs

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A Bunch of Amateurs

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Movie Info

Synopsis Washed-up Hollywood star Jefferson Steel (Burt Reynolds) is deceived by his agent into playing King Lear in an amateur community production in a small English town. Expecting a suite at a fancy hotel, the actor finds himself lodging in a bed and breakfast. Steel's arrogance and pretensions barely allow him to conform to such indignities as rehearsing Shakespeare in a barn. But, among the enthusiastic locals, he slowly comes to rethink some of his assumptions and look at life in a whole new way.
Director
Andy Cadiff
Screenwriter
Nick Newman, John Ross, Ian Hislop, Jonathan Gershfield
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 36m