GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★1/2
Director: Louis Leterrier
Screenplay by: Sacha Baron Cohen, Phil Johnston
Story by: Sacha Baron Cohen, Peter Baynhan, Phil Johnston
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Strong, Rebel Wilson, Penélope Cruz, Isla Fisher and Babourey Sidibe.
A spy action comedy.
I’m not saying it’s one of Sacha’s best (I mean, Borat was a revelation), but Grimsby is definitely worth a giggle, a cringe and an outright laugh. Yes, his humour is crude and extremely un-PC. But it can also be very dry and very un-PC! And that’s why I found myself sniggering through-out the film.
Even though he’s got his football, hotlips girlfriend and 11 kids, Nobby (Sacha Baron Cohen) still misses his long lost brother, Sebastion (Mark Strong). Finally tracking him down, Nobby finds out his brother is a spy on a mission and Sebastion finds Nobby to be his idiot but ever-loving brother. Together, nothing can stand in their way, except perhaps for Nobby… and the people of Grimsby giving away their location… and a few randy elephants.
Nobby is the definite focus of the narrative and humour. Dawn, Nobby’s girlfriend (played by Rebel Wilson) gets a few farts in. It’s interesting how Rebel is inherently funny in this film, similar to Sacha. Just the expressions on the face are funny. I mean, Nobby showing his – I love you brother, face is hilarious.
But why-oh-why did I find Daniel Radcliff (the character, not the actual actor) contracting AIDS the funniest part of the film?!
There is a particular style to the Cohen storyline. And even through it wasn’t his best, Cohen has written a spy action film, the execs have thrown a load of cash at it and mixed it with his humour. And yes, I was left with a grin on my face.
Not gold but bloody entertaining.