Director: John Landis
Released: October 29, 2010
I read a lot of highly mixed reviews before buying this film on DVD, and as such I started watching it from a neutral standpoint, despite my love of Simon Pegg films. And as I was watching, I couldn't help but feel that something was wrong with it. It wasn't until a second viewing that I realised what it was: it's just not funny enough.
Which is a shame, really, because apart from that it's a rather enjoyable film.
The film is a comedic take on the infamous murders committed by Irish immigrants Burke and Hare in 1820's Edinburgh, who sold their murder victims to Dr Robert Knox for him to dissect. I shan't worry too much about spoiling the plot in this review since the story is well known already, although this retelling is not exactly historically accurate.
Pegg plays Burke and Sirkis plays Hare as they discover the market for fresh corpses, with Wilkinson as Knox and Curry as his rival, Dr Munroe, and Ronnie Corbitt as tiny militia captain McLintock intent on bringing down the villanous duo. Ironically, Burke and Hare are far more likable than many of the films other characters, despite their murderous tendencies. Pegg and Sirkis play the roles with a relaxed cheer which appears very natural, and which is especially amusing in contrast with their sinister deeds. Their cheerful chatter whilst committing a murder is worth a chuckle or two.
Unfortunately, a lot of the 'comedy' in the film appears forced and is highly predictable. Gags like an out-of-control barrel containing a body rolling down a hill have been done to death (sorry) and are obvious long before they take place. A member of the militia fainting constantly at the sight of body parts and murder got a few laughs from me at first but quickly lost its charm.
However, the thing which really killed (sorry) this comedy in my books was Isla Fisher's character, Ginny, an aspiring actress whom Burke falls for. Bless her, she tried her best with what she had, even managing to maintain a believable Scots accent for the majority of the film, but I simply could not force myself to care about her idea for an all-female production of Macbeth which smitten Burke funds with his murder-gained profit. Her part feels tacked on to give the rather mild-mannered Burke a reason for his crimes, and their little romance, when put alongside Burke's other activities in the film, feels clumsy and unnatural. Burke's failing to get her into bed until demanding a conjugal visit before his execution is funny, but neither brilliant nor original.
Worst of all, as Burke stood on the gallows with a noose around his neck, his final words were gag-worthy, to the point where I was actually glad when he dropped out of sight, something I never thought I'd say regarding Simon Pegg. Announcing that he 'did it for love' with an affectionate gooey smile at Ginny before being executed seems too corny for words, and entirely spoiled any sinister mood conjured up by the film. Which is a problem, since the story is rather sinister.
I have not said anything too positive so far, and I would like to point out that I did enjoy the movie as a whole, but it is certainly not Pegg's best. The fact that I believe more screen time was devoted to the romance than to the murders is a major problem. And, while it works just fine not being entirely historically accurate, there were times when I felt it should have been. In the true story, Hare testified against Burke in order to save his own skin. In this tale, Burke confesses to save the rest. I was highly unsatisfied (I found Pegg's Burke likeable, but his selfless act was too slushy), at least in part because I think it might have been amusing to see Sirkis's Hare selling his mate down the river. His selfishness was evident in the quick thank you he offered God when Burke confessed, but this selfishness could have generated more comedy if used effectively.
The film's impressive supporting cast including Christopher Lee, Paul Whitehouse, Reece Shearsmith and Bill Bailey (as the amusingly hypocritical hangman who called Burke's murder-for-money idea 'evil' before accepting his wage for the execution) add a well-needed breath of comedy, with Ronnie Corbitt really stealing the show. Pegg's talent, I felt, was not put to its best use, and I blame this on the useless romance which dragged down the comedy.
Burke and Hare was John Landis's first feature film in quite some time, and while it's certainly not up to his 'An American Werewolf in London' standards, it's enjoyable and funny, if not hillarious. With the actual skeleton of the real William Burke credited at the end of the film, and the sobering tale of what he and Hare did still fresh in my memory, I could appreciate how difficult it must have been to try and make a successful comedy film out of such a horrible story of mass murder. And although it's not brilliant, I do believe they did their best. Not Pegg's greatest by far, but certainly very watchable.
Cinema Sweet Rating - 6/10
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