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COMEDY ADAPTATION LOSES ITS MOMENTUM IN THE FINAL ACT
THERE are no more sightings of Jack Whitehall’s naked bottom in the final instalment of this Evelyn Waugh adaptation.
Which is arguably a shame, as the 1920s set comedy slightly runs out of steam.
Valiantly taking the fall for the murky deeds of his beautiful yet self-centred fiancée Margot (Eva Longoria), Paul (Whitehall) finds himself in deep trouble with the law. Just as he’s ordering a slap-up feast for his ‘bachelor luncheon’ (the period equivalent of a stag do, apparently), our hapless hero is arrested and thrown in the clink with a seven-year sentence.
“Bit different from the Ritz eh?” sneers a prison warden. “We don’t like your sort here... you’re in for a rough time.”
While being detained at Her Majesty’s Pleasure, Paul meets many less-than-savoury characters including old faces Holbeck (Stephen Graham) and Grimes (Douglas Hodge) who’s in for bigamy.
Trollied actor Jason Watkins, fresh from playing Line of Duty’s murdered forensics expert, puts in a neat turn as Prison Governor Wilfred Lucas-Dockery.
“While you’re in here I don’t want you to feel like your personality is being stamped out – what are your passions?” enquires the governor.
To which Paul deadpans: “Freedom and long-distance running.”
The only thing keeping the poor old chap going is the dream of being reunited with his true love Margot.
But will she have loyally waited for Paul, or dived instead into the arms of Sir Humphrey Maltravers?
Although perfectly cast here as the posh fool, it would be interesting to see if Whitehall is capable of playing against type for his next acting gig.