Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

R

2005

1h 34m

Comedy

List

88%

129 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A director tries to shoot an adaptation of a novel that is considered to be impossible to film.

Read More

Read Less

Prime Video

Rent Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon add madcap, knowing performances to the mix, and the result is a fun, postmodern romp.

Read Critics Reviews

isla s

This is a, on the outside, rather bland and meandering film, about the filming of a different film (if you follow me). I'd seen it while on holiday with my parents over 10 years ago and I remember being confused and bored by it and I wanted to give it another watch, so I did. I wouldn't say its really funny as such, although it is gently amusing at times. I can see that the banter between Brydon and Coogan (thats listing them alphabetically by surname, which is, as Brydon see's things, the right way to do things) was clearly evident in this film, made prior to the 'The Trip' TV series, or films as they were released as in the US, I believe. There are some scenes whereby the actors are put in silly, farcical situations, that leads to some comedy but I didn't feel it was ever especially laugh out loud - its rather subtle but its still somewhat entertaining and I do enjoy the banter between the two leads. I thought it seemed more like a long TV program, rather than a film as such but if your a fan of Coogan and/or Brydon, then I would certainly recommend it - also, if so then I recommend staying for the credits rolling, where you see more of their banter.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

colin m

I don't know what this piece was supposed to be.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A kind of free-wheeling rehearsal for Winterbottom, Coogan and Brydon's The Trip, this highly entertaining deconstruction and riff on the famous novel plays with truth and fiction and petty jealousies to great effect, aided by an excellent ensemble cast. Nice too to have the musical homages to Barry Lyndon and Draughtsman's Contract.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very British, peculiarly about the subject and moviemaking;self-effacing comedy at its best may not be everyone's cup of tea

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Decent. movie Much less awful than you would guess as a movie. A decent implementation too. Can a film like this be outstanding. You are watching it because of Steve and the book,.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

anthony b

Director Michael Winterbottom channels Fellini and the result is one of his best films. Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon or Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan (inside joke) are the best onscreen duo since... ever. They have a chemistry that is scary organic and as they play off each other the hilarity ensues to a painful degree. I will say that I had seen the Trip films prior to this and was anticipating more of the same, which it is in regards to Coogan and Brydon, but Winterbottom's direction here is much more reminiscent of 24 Hour Party People and obviously Fellini. The fluidity of the film is mind-bogglingly bizarre in the best sense and that is thanks to the seamless editing and flawlessly concise screenplay. Overall, Tristra Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story is hilarious, challenging, and nearly perfect.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Michael Winterbottom

Director

Steve Coogan

Tristram Shandy

Rob Brydon

Capt. Toby Shandy

Keeley Hawes

Elizabeth

Shirley Henderson

Susannah

Dylan Moran

Dr. Slop

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

33%

86%

Love, Honour and Obey

97%

86%

The Snapper

44%

20%

Hollywood North

56%

38%

I Want Candy

91%

79%

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

RT-UK’s What to Watch at the Edinburgh Film Festival

"A Mighty Heart" Director Michael Winterbottom Talks Terrorism, Angelina With RT

RT-UK Exclusive: Win Tickets to the BAFTAs!

View more photos

Catherine Shoard

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Coogan may be game and there are plenty of nods to assorted sexploits, but this riffing on his caddish public image was done a lot more amusingly and a lot less smugly in a 10-minute skit in Jim Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes.

Jan 17, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: B

Feb 18, 2012

Full Review

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

A successful mix of literary adaptation, meta-fictional discourse and inside-showbiz comedy. Both funny and clever.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…as good as film as could be made from this particular book…

Rated: 4/5

Jun 12, 2023

Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Winterbottom's film ... is not, in the end, a serious effort. It competently incorporates a few of the novel's more celebrated episodes, but prefers to take the line of least resistance.

Feb 14, 2021

Full Review

Nathanael Hood

Nate Hood Reviews

A Cock and Bull Story is an admirable effort, but an ultimately disappointing one.

Rated: 6/10

Jan 12, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

A director tries to shoot an adaptation of a novel that is considered to be impossible to film.

Director: Michael Winterbottom
Screenwriter: Frank Cottrell Boyce
Production Co: BBC
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 28, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.2M
Runtime: 1h 34m

Most Popular at Home Now