Life is full of important questions. Does Donald Trump really think his hair looks good? Will Tom Cruise ever age? Do people actually watch “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”? But perhaps the most perplexing question is this – what has happened to Johnny Depp? And to go a bit further, what is driving him to pick such wretched projects these days? Over the years Depp has chosen a wide variety of weird and eccentric roles. But since his last “Pirates” movie, several of his choices have been…well…suspect.
Simply put, “Mortdecai” is his worst yet. It’s an appallingly unfunny action comedy fueled by lazy humor, juvenile gags, and its absurdly creepy main character. The film is based on a book series by English novelist Kyril Bonfiglioli. There were several books in the series which makes me think there was some decent material there. But screenwriter Eric Aronson doesn’t capture anything interesting or entertaining.
Mortdecai (Depp) is a shady art dealer and charlatan who, along with his high maintenance wife JoHanna (Gwyneth Paltrow), is financially strapped due to heavy tax debt. Inspector and old college acquaintance Alistair Martland (Ewan McGregor) comes to Mortdecai to help find a stolen rare Goya painting in exchange for settling his tax debt with the government. Along with his trusted manservant Jock (Paul Bettany), Mortdecai globetrots around the world, encounters a variety of uninteresting people, and faces plenty of dangers. Whatever.
Yep, that’s the face you’ll have as the credits roll
I feel as though “Mortdecai” revolves around a continuous inside joke that I was never let in on. Surely a comedy can’t be this anemic, lame, and humorless. I sat stone-faced the entire time watching a talented and wasted cast flounder around with some of the worst material of the year. It could be said that this is a new low for Johnny Depp. The guy has talent. We have seen it in the past. But you see none of it in “Mortdecai”. Instead you get Depp at his most annoying and you have to wonder how much more of this nonsense can his career take?
VERDICT – 1 STAR
Keith & the Movies 
I don’t ever want to see that $@%¥ing film. Johnny Depp $@%¥ing sucks now.
It is horrid. A complete waste of time and resources. It is the worst of his recent lot of garbage.
In answer to your questions:
– Yes…unfortunately.
– That portrait Tom keeps hidden sure does.
– Yeah, and I live with one of them…no comment.
Its January release the best indicator, and in keeping with his choices of late, ordained this was going to be bad. He can still be saved, though. And “Black Mass” might be what does it. We’ll see.
Black Mass is grabbing a lot of attention. I was listening to two critics discuss it and both seem optimistic that this is Depp back in good form. Let’s hope!
Great review Keith. Up to this point I thought this movie was about some strange Vampire – no idea why but that seemed most likely. Depp used to be amazing and it is terrible that he has stooped to the dry heaving movie level.
LOL! Maybe it was and they did such a horrible job relaying it! 😉
Haha!
I’d heard/read a few reviews when this came out earlier in the year, and it looks terrible. Fun to read your review but I’d also like to see some better Depp movies. I haven’t actually watched The Lone Ranger and that seems to have polarized opinion.
I swear, these Depp comedies actually give me a glimpse of hope with their trailers but they are always a letdown. This may be the worse of the lot.
The Lone Ranger was a long mess. It’s only saving grace was its ridiculously over the top but wildly entertaining finale. But you have to go through a ton of nonsense to get there.
Just when I thought he couldn’t possibly be in a worse film than Transcendence he goes and makes this garbage.
Hope things change for him with Black Mass
Don’t forget Dark Shadows. Let’s hope Black Mass gets him back on track!
1 star? How generous!
And it earned it let me tell you. 😉
Good review Keith. The movie wasn’t a travesty. It just wasn’t all that funny whenever Depp was around.
The only problem is he was around for pretty much the entire movie.
One star sounds generous! It looked dreadful.
I was in a forgiving mood! 😉
I found this movie just embarrasing to watch. Let’s hope Black Mass brings Johnny Depp back to form!
I really, really hope so. The guy is a good actor, but junk like this really leaves you questioning him.
I tend to avoid everything with Depp’s name attached. I will see Black Mass because I also tent to see everything with Edgerton’s name attached. Let’s pray.
LOL. I’m so with you except I haven’t been as wise when it comes to Depp. I do love the supporting cast in Black Mass
I couldn’t face watching this but based on the trailer everyone who agreed to be in it should be ashamed of themselves.
DO NOT SUBJECT YOURSELF TO THIS GARBAGE! You are wise to stay away!
Yikes…Pass!