“Mortdecai” is a lousy film, riddled by a weak and linear plot. The plot brings the audience to some attractive destinations — England, Hong Kong, Russia, and the United States — but the locales are wasted on the film’s lackluster premise and execution.
The film’s protagonist — played by the ever-quirky Johnny Depp — is Charlie Mortdecai, an art-dealing English aristocrat who finds himself saddled with 8 million pounds of debt. When the police knock at his door and ask him to help in a search for a stolen painting, Mortdecai is sent on a quest around the world accompanied by his manservant Jock (Paul Bettany).
This crisis dynamic which emerges throughout the duo’s journey is at the center of the film’s humor — but it occurs so often it makes Mortdecai seem like a bumbling idiot. This is not to say that having a buffoon as a lead in a film does not work — Del Griffith from “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” is a classic example — but Del Griffith had depth where Mortdecai has none. Mortdecai is two-dimensional to the extreme, making it nearly impossible to sympathize with him.
Supporting members of the cast are mostly relegated to the sidelines throughout the film, but when they do appear their performances provide mild relief. Gwyneth Paltrow is beautiful and charming as Mrs. Mortdecai. Ewan McGregor plays Inspector Martland, who competes for Mrs. Mortdecai’s affection while helping Mortdecai secure the lost painting. Each member of the supporting cast is fully invested in their respective roles, which makes the film at least bearable at times.
Toward the end, audiences get comfortable with the film, and once this occurs, it is easy to smile at some of Mortdecai’s idiocy, find satisfaction in the fact that Jock saves him in his usual manner and even be surprised when Mortdecai finally saves Jock once. Nevertheless, that small amount of charm does not make up for all of the film’s faults.
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