KING RALPH (1991) **1/2 John Goodman as Cinderella. No, wait, that's not exactly right, fortunately. John Goodman as everything good about America, and John Hurt (spouting a quite credible upper crust) as everything wrong with Britain. That's closer. What would happen, for example, if a red-blooded Vegas lounge singer was installed as King of England? It's not all about Little Richard tunes and Burger King, though. Peter O'Toole is more than up to the job of portraying everything regal and elegant about the monarchy (as head peon), and Camille Coduri is a fetching representation of the basic goodness of the commoners. The film could ask some big questions, but thankfully doesn't bother. Only the Liberal Democrats are still debating their position on the monarchy, the rest of us found our position, one way or another, decades ago. So instead of semi-learned psychological self-flagellation we get unadulterated whimsy and low-brow but authentic entertainment. Well! How American...but surely it couldn't turn into some sort of mystery at the end, could it?
back to Brilliant Observations on 1776 Films home
go back home, or send me email
no more reviews! I want to buy your novel!