Pleasant and funny, if not uproarious, comedy is an ideal vehicle for the legendary John Cleese. He plays Brian Stimpson, the strict, demanding headmaster of a private school. His big character detail is that he lives life by the clock. Everything must be done when it is scheduled to be done. Therefore, it becomes an unending headache for him when everything goes wrong while he is on his way to speak at a headmasters' conference. Before the day is over, he'll have the cops after him, he'll enjoy some R & R at a monastery, he'll hitch a ride with Laura Wisely (Sharon Maiden), one of his students, and he'll hook up with an old acquaintance, Pat (Penelope Wilton).
This enjoyable little effort seems somewhat forgotten when one looks at Cleeses' career. Therefore it could use some more exposure. Seeing that it takes place over the course of one day, it's paced pretty well, and everybody in the cast gets into the spirit of the thing. Young Maiden is appealing as Laura, and the top notch British cast also includes Stephen Moore, Alison Steadman, Joan Hickson, Pat Keen, Sheila Keith, Tony Haygarth, and Geoffrey Palmer. Cleese is perfect as the anal retentive, somewhat uptight person who gradually loosens up, a la Steve Martin in "Planes, Trains & Automobiles". And just like that other film, there is a certain lunacy in what can only be described as a comic nightmare. Things just keep getting worse for Stimpson, and you can't help but feel bad for him while also chuckling at these misadventures.
The ending is not all that satisfying, but getting there is still fun.
Seven out of 10.
This enjoyable little effort seems somewhat forgotten when one looks at Cleeses' career. Therefore it could use some more exposure. Seeing that it takes place over the course of one day, it's paced pretty well, and everybody in the cast gets into the spirit of the thing. Young Maiden is appealing as Laura, and the top notch British cast also includes Stephen Moore, Alison Steadman, Joan Hickson, Pat Keen, Sheila Keith, Tony Haygarth, and Geoffrey Palmer. Cleese is perfect as the anal retentive, somewhat uptight person who gradually loosens up, a la Steve Martin in "Planes, Trains & Automobiles". And just like that other film, there is a certain lunacy in what can only be described as a comic nightmare. Things just keep getting worse for Stimpson, and you can't help but feel bad for him while also chuckling at these misadventures.
The ending is not all that satisfying, but getting there is still fun.
Seven out of 10.