Rating of
2.5/4
"Mindhorn" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 12/18/19
A washed up actor who starred in a cheesy TV detective series in the 1980’s hopes to revitalise his career when the police contact him about helping them capture a murderer obsessed with the show.
Let’s face it, mocking the popular culture of the 1980’s is not an original idea. The plot to Mindhorn is basically a cross between Star Trek parody Galaxy Quest and the Alan Partridge movie Alpha Papa, which also starred Steve Coogan. It’s also clear that the film is aping the similar popular culture spoofs of Simon Pegg such as Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz. But the fact is, Mindhorn is funny. It’s never hilarious – despite what the DVD blurb says – but the chuckles flow freely and Julian Barratt has made a career out of playing self-important boobs that are constantly the butt of the joke, and he does it well.
Add amusing cameos from the likes of Kenneth Branagh and Simon Callow and appealing turns by love interest Essie Davis and Andrea Riseborough, and you have a very British farce that although lacking originality, is actually pretty good fun.
