Withnail and I

R

1987

1h 42m

Comedy

List

92%

Tomatometer

38 Reviews

94%

Audience Score

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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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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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

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 5/5

Sep 11, 2007

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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

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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

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Stefan Pape

Common Sense Media

British cult classic about two alcoholics; much profanity.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 11, 2020

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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

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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

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Richard L

Like a stream-of-consciousness art project. Entertaining, but not especially memorable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

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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

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Peter C

Hilarious and endlessly quotable, however it's homophobic ending depicting the gay uncle as a predator hasn't aged well. You can ignore this by interpreting that Withnail and Marwood are gay lovers all along.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/25/23

Full Review

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Bruce Robinson

Director

Richard E. Grant

Withnail

Paul McGann

Peter Marwood

Richard Griffiths

Monty

Ralph Brown

Danny

Michael Elphick

Jake

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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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