A Merry War

PG-13

1997

1h 40m

Comedy

Drama

List

83%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

61%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

When successful advertiser Gordon Comstock (Richard E. Grant) abruptly walks away from his career to pursue his dream of being a poet, his path is much more difficult than expected. At first encouraged by a prior publishing of his work, Comstock has trouble finding work, and soon financial problems begin to pile up. Also frustrating is that his former co-worker and girlfriend, Rosemary (Helena Bonham Carter), seems uninterested in sex, although she does stand by him despite his struggles.

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 3/5

Sep 15, 2005

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 3/4

Apr 24, 2002

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 20, 2005

Full Review

Daniel M. Kimmel

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Rated: 4/5

Feb 8, 2004

Full Review

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David W

A witty, quirky and very British character piece. The movie is elevated considerably by two excellent lead performances from the always reliable Grant and Bonham-Carter. A very enjoyable and thought provoking watch. Definitely recommended.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/08/23

Full Review

Frances H

Witty Brit flick about a stolid middle class ad man who desires to be anything but and revolts from the bourgeois pursuit of money to become a poet. Not the kind of story one would expect from George Orwell, but good, with a great cast.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/05/13

Full Review

Audience Member

Richard E Grant's character was likable untill he threw all that money away...i could no longer watch after 45 minutes because i thought he didn't deserve to be happy after that. Julia is a complete mug.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Makes you feel what it might have been like living in the 30s in Art Deco London. Orwell's an astute observer of human nature, and storyteller. Terrific musical score, too.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Strange... but the actors are good!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Richard E Grant and Helena Bonham Carter enjoy a quirky chemistry in this tale of a copywriter come poet who wants to free his creative soul. Not unlike his role in Withnail & I, Grant's performance comes very close to being melodramatic, but he pulls it off. A good date movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Robert Bierman

Director

Richard E. Grant

Gordon Comstock

Helena Bonham Carter

Rosemary

Julian Wadham

Ravelston

Jim Carter

Erskine

Harriet Walter

Julia Comstock

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Synopsis

When successful advertiser Gordon Comstock (Richard E. Grant) abruptly walks away from his career to pursue his dream of being a poet, his path is much more difficult than expected. At first encouraged by a prior publishing of his work, Comstock has trouble finding work, and soon financial problems begin to pile up. Also frustrating is that his former co-worker and girlfriend, Rosemary (Helena Bonham Carter), seems uninterested in sex, although she does stand by him despite his struggles.

Director: Robert Bierman
Producer: Peter Shaw
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 15, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $312.3K
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Surround

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