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Withnail and I

Play trailer Poster for Withnail and I R 1987 1h 42m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Two out-of-work actors -- the anxious, luckless Marwood (Paul McGann) and his acerbic, alcoholic friend, Withnail (Richard E. Grant) -- spend their days drifting between their squalid flat, the unemployment office and the pub. When they take a holiday "by mistake" at the country house of Withnail's flamboyantly gay uncle, Monty (Richard Griffiths), they encounter the unpleasant side of the English countryside: tedium, terrifying locals and torrential rain.
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Withnail and I

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Critics Consensus

Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann prove irresistibly hilarious as two misanthropic slackers in Withnail and I, a biting examination of artists living on the fringes of prosperity and good taste.

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Critics Reviews

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Joel Siegel Chicago Reader Withnail and I is more than passably diverting and surely preferable to mindless Hollywood summer movies. But it left me hungry to know much more about its characters and their era than the writer-director seems interested in providing. Rated: 2/4 May 9, 2022 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 5/5 Sep 11, 2007 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian It's much funnier, and sadder, watched stone-cold sober. Rated: 5/5 Sep 10, 2007 Full Review Romey Norton Film Focus Online Withnail and I is a 5 star film for me, what is it missing? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Unintentionally it’s teaching its audience so much about life, friendship, and the British, and gives a lesson in acting and writing. Rated: 5/5 Jul 22, 2024 Full Review Alex Denney NME (New Musical Express) A brilliantly funny, enduring classic with an unforgettable performance from Richard E Grant. Rated: 5/5 Apr 22, 2021 Full Review Stefan Pape Common Sense Media British cult classic about two alcoholics; much profanity. Rated: 5/5 Sep 11, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Not one single piece of dialogue is wasted. Every line is a quote. I first saw this film thirty years ago and it remains a masterpiece. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/27/24 Full Review Paul G Having read how hilarious the film is I have wasted time in seeing it until now 2024 but after 65 minutes I have not laughed once. I find it so far a cringe and although Mcgann is good Grants performance is so ott and painful. Should have rented or missed completely but alas I wasted £6 buying something I will never ever ever watch again Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/07/24 Full Review No R Pretty brilliant casting and character development on the way through their urban & rural trials. Plus Richard Starkey, OBE ! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/29/24 Full Review Richard L Like a stream-of-consciousness art project. Entertaining, but not especially memorable. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/05/24 Full Review Ryosuke N The last secne where Withnail plays the adaptation from Hamlet towards the animals was incredible and sad. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/03/24 Full Review David W A comedy masterpiece with a towering central performance from Grant who is ably supported by Paul McGann and a fine ensemble cast. It's humour is distinctly not for everyine but if you get it then you'll simply adore the bones of it. For me, it started a deep dive into Richard E. Grants body of work and my appreciation of what a wonderful actor he can be in the right roles. His movies may not all be great but he's nearly always great in them. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Withnail and I

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Movie Info

Synopsis Two out-of-work actors -- the anxious, luckless Marwood (Paul McGann) and his acerbic, alcoholic friend, Withnail (Richard E. Grant) -- spend their days drifting between their squalid flat, the unemployment office and the pub. When they take a holiday "by mistake" at the country house of Withnail's flamboyantly gay uncle, Monty (Richard Griffiths), they encounter the unpleasant side of the English countryside: tedium, terrifying locals and torrential rain.
Director
Bruce Robinson
Producer
Paul M. Heller
Screenwriter
Bruce Robinson
Production Co
Cineplex-Odeon Films
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 15, 2020
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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