Mortdecai (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Mortdecai

| image = Mortdecai poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = David Koepp

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Andrew Lazar
Johnny Depp
Christi Dembrowski
Patrick McCormick
Gigi Pritzker

}}

| screenplay = Eric Aronson

| based_on = {{Based on|Don't Point that Thing at Me|Kyril Bonfiglioli}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| narrator =

| music = {{Plainlist|

| cinematography = Florian Hoffmeister

| editing = {{plainlist|

Jill Savitt
Derek Ambrosi

}}

| studio = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = Lionsgate

| released = {{Film date|2015|01|23|}}

| runtime = 107 minutes{{cite web | url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/mortdecai-film | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141224190613/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/mortdecai-film | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 24, 2014 | title=MORTDECAI (12A) | work=British Board of Film Classification | date=December 22, 2014 | access-date=December 24, 2014}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $60 million{{Cite news|url=https://indd.adobe.com/view/87976431-f650-4be0-a9c3-392d676b5514|title=2015 Feature Film Study|last=FilmL.A.|date=June 15, 2016|access-date=June 16, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160704082640/https://indd.adobe.com/view/87976431-f650-4be0-a9c3-392d676b5514|archive-date=July 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}}

| gross = $47.3 million{{cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mortdecai.htm | title=Mortdecai (2014) | work=Box Office Mojo | publisher=Internet Movie Database | access-date=November 2, 2015}}

}}

Mortdecai is a 2015 American action comedy film directed by David Koepp and written by Eric Aronson. The film is adapted from the novel series Mortdecai (specifically its 1972 first installment Don't Point that Thing at Me) written by Kyril Bonfiglioli. It stars Johnny Depp in the title role and features Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Olivia Munn, Paul Bettany and Jeff Goldblum. Released by Lionsgate on January 23, 2015, Mortdecai was a box office flop, grossing $47.3 million against its estimated $60 million budget, and was critically panned.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/25/mortdecai-box-office-flop_n_6542100.html |title='Mortdecai' Is One Of Johnny Depp's Worst Flops Ever |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=2015-01-25 |access-date=2015-06-12}}{{cite news|author=Stephanie Garcia |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/mortdecai-becomes-johnny-depps-fifth-consecutive-box-office-bomb-10003543.html |title=Mortdecai becomes Johnny Depp's fifth consecutive movie to flop at the box office - News - Films |work=The Independent |date=2015-01-26 |access-date=2015-06-12 |location=London}}

Plot

Lord Charlie Mortdecai, an 'art dealer' and swindler, is accosted in Hong Kong by one of his victims, a gangster named Fang. Jock, Mortdecai's faithful manservant, extricates his master before they can be killed.

Returning to London, Mortdecai and his wife, Johanna, consider ways to pay off their crushing tax debt. At the same time in Oxford, a painting by Francisco Goya becomes the target of an elaborate theft, resulting in the murder of an art restorer. Inspector Alistair Martland is put on the case. He, in love with Johanna since college, puts pressure on Mortdecai to assist him. Martland believes the prime suspect to be Emil Strago. Mortdecai agrees to help in exchange for 10% of the insurance money.

Mortdecai interviews people affiliated with the art world, including Spinoza, an art smuggler. While they argue, Strago arrives and shoots at them, killing Spinoza; Mortdecai escapes unharmed, although he accidentally shoots Jock in the process. Johanna meets with 'The Duke', who knows the thief and says that the painting conceals the location of a hoard of Nazi gold. Mortdecai is kidnapped by thugs working for a Russian named Romanov because they think that Mortdecai has the painting. Romanov threatens torture unless Mortdecai surrenders it, but he escapes through a window with Jock.

Martland sends Mortdecai to America to meet with potential Goya buyer Milton Krampf. Planning to sell his beloved Rolls-Royce to the American, he tries to see if Krampf is involved with the theft. After Mortdecai arrives in Los Angeles, Krampf shows him that the Goya was smuggled into the US in the Rolls after it had been stolen from Strago and stashed there.

Krampf invites Mortdecai to the party, where he will show the Goya. Jock and Mortdecai try to steal it during the party, as do Krampf's daughter Georgina and Strago. She attempts to seduce Mortdecai while Strago steals the painting. Johanna arrives with Martland and catches her husband with Georgina. Mortdecai flees to help Jock steal the painting, but finds Krampf has been murdered by Strago and the painting is gone. Strago is caught, but Georgina helps him escape with the painting. Mortdecai, Jock, Martland and Johanna find them in a motel where Martland sets fire to the Goya, causing the building to explode. It is revealed that the painting was a fake; The Duke has hidden the real one.

The Mortdecais retrieve the painting, putting it up for auction. The sale attracts Fang and Romanov, whose thugs Mortdecai and Jock waylay. In the auction room, Strago attempts to kidnap Johanna while Mortdecai bids up the 'Goya'. Sir Graham eventually wins it for Romanov and Martland apprehends Strago during the commotion. Sale proceeds pay off their debt, but they are still broke.

The painting is revealed to be another fake, and Romanov plots his revenge whilst his thugs begin to torture Sir Graham.

In the closing scene, the Mortdecais share a bubble bath while admiring the real Goya.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Johnny Depp as Charlie Mortdecai
Ewan McGregor as Inspector Alistair Martland
Gwyneth Paltrow as Johanna Mortdecai
Paul Bettany as Jock Strapp
Jonny Pasvolsky as Emil Strago
Olivia Munn as Georgina Krampf{{cite web | title=Watch Johnny Depp In 'Mortdecai' Movie Trailer [VIDEO] Gwyneth Paltrow, Olivia Munn, Ewan McGregor Costar In New Comedy | work= Mstarz.com | url=http://www.mstarz.com/articles/41703/20141111/watch-johnny-depp-mortecai-movie-trailer-video.htm |access-date=November 11, 2014}}
Jeff Goldblum as Milton Krampf
Michael Culkin as Sir Graham
Ulrich Thomsen as Romanov
Alec Utgoff as Dmitri
Paul Whitehouse as Spinoza
Michael Byrne as the Duke
Austin Lyon as Hotel Clerk
Nicholas Farrell as Auctioneer
Junix Inocian as Fang Fat

}}

Production

Principal photography and production began in London on October 21, 2013.{{cite news|title=Principal Photography Begins for Mortdecai, Starring Johnny Depp|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=110465|access-date=October 23, 2013|newspaper=comingsoon.net|date=October 21, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Mortdecai Starring Johnny Depp Begins Production in London|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/mortdecai-starring-johnny-depp-begins-production-in-london|access-date=October 23, 2013|newspaper=movieweb.com|date=October 21, 2013}}

Parts of the film were shot on location at Hedsor House in Buckinghamshire in the UK,{{cite web | title = Hedsor House used in the film Mortdecai (2015) | publisher = Hedsor House | year = 2015 | url = http://www.hedsor.com/news/johnny-depp-stars-in-mortdecai/ | access-date = January 20, 2015 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150121173845/http://www.hedsor.com/news/johnny-depp-stars-in-mortdecai/ | archive-date = January 21, 2015 | df = mdy-all }} where Depp, Munn, and Bettany filmed scenes in Hedsor House's Boudoir and Bridal Suites.

Scenes were also shot on location at the National Art Library in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.{{cite web | title = I'm sure I've seen that Library before (2014) | publisher = Victoria and Albert Museum | year = 2014 | url = http://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/national-art-library/im-sure-ive-seen-that-library-before | access-date = January 28, 2015}}

The Goya painting is a pastiche or modern version of the 1805 Portrait of the Marchioness of Santa Cruz (Madrid, Prado Museum).

Release

On April 23, 2014, Lionsgate announced that the film would be released on February 6, 2015.{{cite web|last=Lesnick |first=Silas |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=117447 |title=Lionsgate Sets Mortdecai, Starring Johnny Depp, for February 6, 2015 |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=April 23, 2014 |access-date=January 23, 2015}} On September 24, 2014, the release date was shifted to January 23, 2015.{{cite news|last1=Lang|first1=Brent|title=Johnny Depp Comedy 'Mortdecai' Shifts to January 2015 Release Date|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/johnny-depp-comedy-mortdecai-shifts-to-january-2015-release-date-1201313324/|access-date=September 25, 2014|publisher=variety.com|date=September 24, 2014}}

= Marketing and promotion =

A photo from the film featuring Depp was revealed on May 8, 2014.{{cite news|last=DAVIS|first=EDWARD|title=First Look: Johnny Depp Gets Mustachioed & Debonair In Spy Thriller Comedy 'Mortdecai'|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-johnny-depp-gets-mustachioed-debonair-in-spy-thriller-comedy-mortdecai-20140508|access-date=May 9, 2014|newspaper=indiewire.com|date=May 8, 2014}} Four character posters - featuring Depp, Paltrow, McGregor, and Munn with mustaches - were released in November 2014. A promotional tie-in for the film was done by The Art of Shaving, whose store windows showed posters of Depp displaying their razors with the slogan "Handsome Doesn't Just Happen".

The first trailer for the film was released on August 12, attached to The Expendables 3. The second trailer was released on November 12 and was attached to Dumb and Dumber To, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Horrible Bosses 2, Top Five, and The Gambler.{{cite news|last1=Anderton|first1=Ethan|title=Johnny Depp Doesn't Need Help with His Bags in 'Mortdecai' Trailer|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2014/johnny-depp-doesnt-need-help-with-his-bags-in-mortdecai-trailer/|access-date=August 13, 2014|publisher=firstshowing.net|date=August 12, 2014}}

Reception

= Box office =

Mortdecai grossed $7.7 million in North America and $39.6 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $47.3 million, against a production budget of $60 million.

The film was released in North America on January 23, 2015. The film was projected to gross around $10 million from 2,648 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $1.5 million its first day and went on to gross $4.2 million in its opening weekend, finishing 9th at the box office.{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mortdecai.htm |title=Mortdecai (2015) |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=2015-02-19 |access-date=2015-11-02}} In its third week the film was pulled from 2,395 theaters (a 90.4% drop), the 10th biggest theater drop in history at the time.{{cite web|title=Biggest Theater Drops|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/theaterdrops.htm |work=Box Office Mojo}}

=Critical response=

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 12% based on 112 reviews and an average rating of 3.50/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Aggressively strange and willfully unfunny, the misguided Mortdecai sounds a frightfully low note in Johnny Depp's post-Pirates filmography".{{cite web|title=Mortdecai (2015)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mortdecai|work=Rotten Tomatoes}} On Metacritic, the film has a score of 27 out of 100 based on 21 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mortdecai|title=Mortdecai Reviews|work=Metacritic}}

On Twitter, Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph characterised the film as "The Crap Budapest Hotel", elaborating in his review: "Mortdecai: mort de cinéma, more like".{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11356689/Mortdecai-review-psychotically-unfunny.html |title=Mortdecai, review: 'psychotically unfunny' |work=Daily Telegraph |date= January 22, 2015|access-date=November 2, 2020}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/|title=Home - Cinemascore|work=cinemascore.com}} Christopher Rosen of The Huffington Post said that Mortdecai "seems destined to be rated as the worst film of 2015, and deservedly so".{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/23/mortdecai-reviews_n_6532582.html |title=Mortdecai Might Be 2015's Worst Movie |work=Huffington Post |date= January 23, 2015|access-date=January 23, 2015}}

Later, in February 2022, director David Koepp took partial blame for the films' failure: "I only directed something someone else wrote once and it was a misbegotten adventure from the beginning, as much my fault as anybody else’s."[https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/qa-alumnus-screenwriter-david-koepp Alumnus David Koepp writes big stories for the big (and small) screen]

= Accolades =

class="wikitable"
Award !Category !Nominee !Result
rowspan=3\|Golden Raspberry Award \|Worst Actor \|Johnny Depp \|{{nom}}
Worst Actress \|Gwyneth Paltrow \|{{nom}}
Worst Screen Combo \|Johnny Depp and his glued-on mustache \|{{nom}}

class="wikitable"

Award

!Category

!Nominee

!Result

rowspan=3|Golden Raspberry Award

|{{nom}}

|{{nom}}

|Johnny Depp and his glued-on mustache

|{{nom}}

References

External links

{{Official website|http://mortdecaithemovie.com}}
[http://lionsgatepublicity.com/home-entertainment/mortdecai/ Mortdecai production info page] at Lionsgate
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160124195258/http://www.lionsgatepublicity.com/uploads/assets/MORTDECAI%20FINAL%20PRODUCTION%20NOTES.pdf Production Notes] at Lionsgate
{{IMDb title|3045616|Mortdecai}}
{{Rotten Tomatoes|mortdecai}}

Category:2015 films

Category:2015 comedy films

Category:2015 action comedy films

Category:2010s American films

Category:2010s English-language films

Category:2010s heist films

Category:2010s spy comedy films

Category:English-language action comedy films

Category:English-language crime films

Category:American action comedy films

Category:American heist films

Category:American spy comedy films