T.D. Arkenberg

No clue what this movie was about. Great cast, familiar author and character. All good ingredients but a disappointing stew of nonsense. Lacks focus. Skip it.

80 days??? I wouldn’t waste 80 minutes with this Phileas Fogg. What could possibly have convinced talented actor David Tennant to play a Phileas Fogg as a complete and clueless one-dimensional moron? Readers and viewers don’t necessarily have to like a story’s protagonist to want to go along for the journey, but we do require a compelling reason for doing so. No such compelling reason is given in this production. Tennant’s Fogg is a foolish fop, a privileged dandy with no redeeming qualities. He only succeeds in spite of himself. We neither like nor respect him. I even started rooting for the villains to stop him, to end this painful and unnecessary journey. Half way through, I’ve not detected a trace of Fogg’s character arc. It’s been agonizing waiting for one to appear. Please read Verne’s book or view the Mike Todd movie. Both will entertain and delight. Sadly, this current BBC adaptation does neither very well.

You think spending Christmas with your in-laws is maddening ?? The movie gives viewers one dimensional characters, and a painfully annoying soundtrack. Except for the surprise revelation of Diana’s dresser, Maggie, the story lacks all nuance and humor. The screenwriter and director give us a single unequivocal answer to the question, “What’s wrong with Diana?” She’s bloody insane!! Sadly, that’s where the story starts and ends. There’s some tinsel on the tree, however! The young actors playing the little princes did a remarkable job and Maggie the dresser presents an interesting and nuanced performance. But everyone else was as stodgy as an overboiled Christmas pudding!

Horrible movie! Confused from the opening. Did the makers of the movie have any clue what they were doing?

NOT OLIVIA DEHAVILLAND’S SNAKEPIT! The period sets and style are the best part of this show. We had high hopes—iconic character, fine acting lead, a vintage period setting. Boy were we disappointed. Stilted might be the best laconic summation of the whole production. The acting, dialogue, characterization are all stilted, fake, artificial, over-the-top BAD! There isn’t much that’s believable about the series. Characters are one-dimensional caricatures. The plot advances because characters are imbeciles or buffoons. Judy Davis, a usually fine actress, channels her old Judy Garland for her quirky role interpretation—shout Hallelujah when the credits role. Then there’s Ratched’s lavish wardrobe—inexplicable, never mind that it couldn’t fit in her suitcase or car. The odd use of monochrome floodlights to emphasize a dramatic scene is jarring and amateurish. The only reason we kept watching was for the laugh factor.... it’s so bad and campy that it’s unintentionally Hilarious. Wretched would have been a more apt title!